Israel Seeks Clarity on Gaza Peace Plan, Stresses Hamas Disarmament
JERUSALEM – Israeli officials are quietly urging the United States to set a firm deadline for international forces to disarm Hamas in Gaza. This comes as part of the next stage of a peace plan for the area, following a ceasefire that ended years of conflict.
Israeli leaders are expected to have an International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza early next year. However, there are concerns that this force will not be able to disarm Hamas. Israel wants the U.S. to set a deadline, after which the Israeli military would be able to act against the terrorist group if the ISF fails.
One Israeli official stated, “We are asking the United States for a deadline. If the ISF doesn’t do its job in a reasonable time, we will step in.”
Ohad Tal, a member of Israel’s government, emphasized the need for an agreement with the U.S. on a deadline. He believes Hamas will not give up its weapons willingly and that the ISF may not be able to force them to. “Israel is ready to move forward with the peace plan, but we need a deadline if the ISF fails,” he said. “Hamas must be disarmed. There is no other way than to let the Israeli military finish the job in Gaza.”
A senior Israeli official said, “There will be a deadline, and when it arrives, either the ISF will disarm Hamas, or the Israeli military will.” The official added, “We’re giving it a chance because we want this to work, but we know it won’t last forever.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also expressed doubts about the ISF’s ability to disarm Hamas. He suggested that Israel might have to take action if the ISF cannot complete the task.
The ISF is intended to ensure Gaza is demilitarized, allowing the Israeli military to withdraw. A new Palestinian government, supported by Arab and international partners, would then take over, rebuild, and work to counter radicalism in the area. Several countries and the United Nations have supported this plan. The first step of the plan involved Hamas releasing hostages in exchange for Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners.
However, Hamas has refused to disarm or give up power, and the U.S. seems to be accepting this for now. Some reports suggest that the peace plan will initially only be implemented in the part of Gaza controlled by Israel, leaving Hamas in control of the rest. U.S. officials have said that the ISF will start deploying to the Israeli-controlled area soon but will not fight Hamas.
Some experts believe that the U.S. is focused on maintaining the appearance of progress toward peace in Gaza, which may involve restraining Israel and making concessions to Hamas and its allies.
Kobi Michael, a former Israeli official, believes that the ISF will not fight Hamas and that only the Israeli military is capable of doing so. He fears that Hamas will rebuild its strength in Gaza, leading to another conflict. “In the end, Hamas will not be disarmed. They will get stronger, and we will have another clash. This will be very difficult for Israel and a disaster for the free world,” he said.
He suggested that the best outcome would be for Israel to resume military operations against Hamas, with international help in civilian affairs. This could create a foundation for greater peace in the region. “We are talking about creating a new regional structure,” he said. “Arab countries that have used the Palestinian issue to blame Israel will have to take responsibility for the problem they created. This will lead to new opportunities.”
Amir Avivi, a former Israeli military officer, believes that Hamas must be defeated before any progress can be made. He said that Israeli leaders are “insisting on a clear date” for Hamas’s disarmament and that “common sense” will prevail.
“Common sense says first, destroy Hamas, demilitarize Gaza, and then do everything else,” he said.
Avivi also noted that upcoming elections in Israel and the U.S. could influence the situation. “If Hamas remains in Gaza, Netanyahu is done politically. I think both he and the U.S. want to sign a regional peace agreement before the elections,” Avivi said. “You can’t move on to regional peace without first destroying Hamas. Again, it’s common sense, and in this case, common sense will prevail.”
Netanyahu is expected to discuss the ISF and other aspects of the peace plan with U.S. officials soon.
