Will Israel withdraw from Gaza if Hamas disarms?
Hamas has signaled willingness to disarm as part of a US-brokered ceasefire plan for Gaza that would include Israeli military withdrawal and establishment of an International Stabilization Force. However, Israel has expressed skepticism about the arrangement, stating it will not withdraw unless Hamas fully disarms first, while Hamas insists Israeli troops must leave before laying down weapons.
A US-brokered proposal aims to resolve the conflict in Gaza through a phased approach involving military withdrawal and security restructuring. Under the plan attributed to US President Donald Trump, Israeli forces would exit the Gaza Strip, after which an International Stabilization Force would assume security responsibilities in coordination with a newly formed Palestinian police force. Hamas has publicly indicated readiness to relinquish its weapons as part of this arrangement. However, Israeli government officials have cast doubt on the feasibility of such disarmament, citing concerns about Hamas's commitment. The core disagreement centers on sequencing: Israel maintains it will not withdraw its military presence unless Hamas first demonstrates complete disarmament, while Hamas takes the opposing position that Israeli troop withdrawal must precede any weapons surrender. This impasse reflects fundamental trust deficits between the parties regarding implementation of any agreement.
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