Israel Says Full Withdrawal Depends on Hamas Complete Disarmament

Israeli government representatives have voiced doubts about Hamas' recent announcement that it is prepared to disarm, emphasizing that a complete surrender of weapons is required before any Israeli troops can leave Gaza. This condition aligns with a United States-brokered proposal, originally advanced by President Donald Trump, which calls for the deployment of an International Stabilization Force to assume security duties alongside a newly formed Palestinian police service.

Hamas counters that Israeli forces must first withdraw from the enclave before it would lay down its arms. The debate was explored on a program hosted by Frankie McCamley, featuring political analyst Xavier Abu Eid, former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defence Michael Mulroy, and former Israeli special envoy Nimrod Novik. The exchange underscores the challenges facing the Trump plan, which seeks to end the ongoing conflict while balancing security concerns of both sides. No concrete steps have been taken to implement the withdrawal or the establishment of the stabilization force.