Serious Security Concerns" About the Proposed Hamas Disarmament Deal, an Israeli Official Said Sunday, As Overnight Strikes Killed at Least"

Doron Spielman, spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, offered some of the first public remarks since U.S. President Donald Trump announced the agreement last week. Spielman told The Associated Press that Israeli intelligence assesses Hamas remains committed to rebuilding its military rather than genuinely demilitarizing, and that Israeli forces would not withdraw from Gaza — where they control more than 60% of the territory — before disarmament. "Our assessment is that if we redeploy before Hamas is truly disarmed, it will quickly expand its presence throughout Gaza, rebuild its terrorist infrastructure, once again threaten Israeli communities, and seek to carry out another Oct.

7-style attack, he said, referencing the 2023 Hamas attack that triggered the war. "Disarming means physically giving up the weapons. Nothing less.

His comments come days after Hamas said it would begin disarming as part of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire signed nine months ago to end the nearly three-year conflict. Trump's 20-point plan calls for Hamas to surrender weapons and destroy its tunnel network, Israeli withdrawal, a new technocratic Palestinian government, an international security force, and rebuilding of the enclave. Hamas disarmament has deadlocked negotiations for months.

Trump announced the deal Thursday on social media, saying it would proceed in "carefully structured phases. An AP-verified copy of the agreement says weapons held by Hamas-run police will transfer to the U.S.-backed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza upon its arrival, with heavy weapons decommissioning and dismantling of military sites to follow, linked to a phased Israeli withdrawal. Most of Gaza's 2 million Palestinians live in the other part of the territory, with hundreds of thousands in squalid tent camps.

Israel appears unlikely to pull back significant forces before October elections, with Netanyahu facing a tough reelection battle and far-right coalition partners urging continued pressure on Hamas. Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostages in the Oct. 7 attack.

Israel's offensive has killed more than 73,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which says women and children make up about half of fatalities. Spielman said Israel appreciates Trump's commitment to its security, but its position is based on intelligence that Hamas continues to rearm and recruit. The White House did not comment Sunday."