Netanyahu says Hamas must disarm before Israel withdraws troops from Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas must be fully disarmed and the Gaza Strip demilitarized before Israel considers withdrawing its troops or moving forward with postwar reconstruction.

Speaking after a meeting with High Representative of the Peace Council Nikolay Mladenov, Netanyahu acknowledged that he has disagreements with U.S. President Donald Trump over the recently proposed agreement involving Hamas.

“I have differences with President Trump, which I do not hide, regarding the recent agreement with Hamas,” Netanyahu said, adding that “Hamas must be disarmed and the Gaza Strip demilitarized before moving to the reconstruction phase.”

According to The Times of Israel, Israeli officials have also indicated that the country does not intend to withdraw its forces from the so-called Yellow Line, a security zone separating the Gaza Strip from areas controlled by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Israeli officials reportedly submitted reservations regarding the proposed peace roadmap, arguing that Israel was not involved in drafting the plan and therefore had no opportunity to present its position before it was released.

The government has also objected to the proposal to include representatives from Qatar and Türkiye on the International Verification Committee that would oversee Hamas’ disarmament, with those concerns reportedly conveyed to both the Peace Council and U.S. officials.