Israel has communicated its concerns about the proposed disarmament deal with Hamas to the United States, raising doubts about the agreement supported by President Donald Trump. Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, stated that Israel’s position is not reflected in the publicly shared framework. His comments, shared with NBC News, mark the first public response from Netanyahu’s office.
The reaction follows a deadly weekend in the Gaza Strip, where the local Health Ministry reported that Israeli strikes killed at least 19 people on Sunday. The Israeli military claimed these strikes targeted Hamas militants and infrastructure.
A photograph captured family and friends mourning a victim of an Israeli airstrike at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The tension between Trump and Netanyahu continues, as Netanyahu faces a challenging re-election in October. The two leaders met last week before the disarmament deal’s unveiling.
Spielman emphasized that a lasting agreement requires the genuine, verifiable, and irreversible demilitarization of Hamas, involving the group’s surrender of its weapons. Hamas has signaled willingness to disarm, conditional on Israel withdrawing from Gaza and ceasing all aggression. Israeli intelligence reports that over the past eight months, Hamas used the ceasefire to rearm, recruit, and rebuild its military infrastructure, preparing for possible attacks similar to the one on October 7, 2023.
The White House did not respond to NBC News regarding the Israeli concerns. Trump claimed to have an understanding with Israel, suggesting that Israel was pleased with the disarmament agreement. His announcement last week sparked cautious hopes for progress in peace efforts. However, regional observers told NBC News that immediate change in Gaza is unlikely, due to numerous obstacles and a lack of urgency from both Hamas and Israel to formally agree to the deal.
Despite the ceasefire, Israeli strikes continued. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported Monday that in the past 24 hours, 19 people were killed and 35 injured in Gaza. On the previous day, seven fatalities occurred, bringing the weekend toll to at least 26. The numbers rose as Israeli attacks targeted homes and vehicles, according to Dr. Muneer al-Bursh, director of the Health Ministry in Gaza. He noted the severe pressure on hospitals due to continuous attacks and a shortage of medical supplies.