Hamas disarmament cannot wait for the IDF's withdrawal from Gaza - editorial

A new proposal for Gaza offers a more concrete framework than previous discussions, addressing key issues like Hamas's weapons, tunnel networks, command structure, and the future administration of the territory. Crucially, it links demilitarization to an Israeli withdrawal. However, the editorial argues this is insufficient, stating Israel cannot accept a process where withdrawal, reconstruction, or political recognition moves forward based on the assumption that Hamas will disarm at a later stage.

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Israel cannot agree to a process in which withdrawal, reconstruction, or political recognition move forward on the assumption that Hamas will disarm later.

The core issue, according to the editorial, is not whether disarmament is mentioned in the document, but whether Hamas is required to carry it out before Israel relinquishes the leverage needed to enforce it. The piece contends that Hamas has consistently used the period since October 7 to gain time, maintain control, and defer difficult questions. While past deals have yielded achievements, such as the return of hostages, Hamas's military capabilities have largely remained intact through diplomatic channels.

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Hamas has spent the period since October 7 using every negotiation to gain time, preserve control, and push the most difficult questions into the next phase.

The current negotiations carry similar risks, with Hamas reportedly presenting its obligations as conditional on Israeli steps that would precede them. The group has repeatedly rejected outright disarmament or offered ambiguous formulations that would allow its weapons to remain under a different guise or authority. The editorial warns that even a more serious proposal, if it relies on such sequencing, could lead to a civilian structure operating under the same threats that have long defined Gaza.

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The United States should be careful not to mistake a framework for implementation.

Israel cannot base its withdrawal on Hamas's promises, the editorial stresses. It urges the United States to be cautious about mistaking a framework for actual implementation. While titles, ceremonies, and declarations might advance negotiations, they do not dismantle rockets or tunnels. The standard for any agreement must be physical and verifiable: weapons collected, production sites and tunnels destroyed, and smuggling routes dismantled. Inspectors must have unfettered access, and violations must automatically halt further stages. Reconstruction, which brings significant financial and political influence, should not begin while Hamas remains armed, as it risks rebuilding the very system that allowed the organization to embed itself so deeply in Gaza.

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The standard must be physical and verifiable.