'Conveyed our security concerns to US': Israel on Hamas disarmament plan

Israeli officials have expressed "serious security concerns" to the United States regarding a proposed disarmament agreement with Hamas, according to a spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. The spokesperson, Doror Spielman, stated that Hamas is not genuinely committed to disarming and that Israel's military will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas lays down its weapons.

Spielman emphasized that disarming means physically giving up weapons, not merely verbal commitments. This comes after Hamas announced its intention to begin disarming as part of a US-brokered ceasefire agreement reached nine months ago. However, significant challenges and lengthy timelines remain before the disarmament process can be fully implemented.

The ceasefire agreement envisions an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, a new Palestinian government, an international security force, and the reconstruction of the devastated enclave. Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued striking Gaza, claiming its operations target Hamas and its infrastructure.