Netanyahu Advisor: Trump's Gaza Plan Stalled Without Hamas Disarmament

Israel will not proceed with the next phase of U.S. President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed, according to Dmitry Gendelman, an advisor to the Prime Minister's Office. Gendelman stated in an exclusive interview that international plans for Gaza's reconstruction cannot advance without Israel's security demands being met. He reminded that Trump's 20-point plan includes political and military steps, with various nations discussing reconstruction funding and peace council mechanisms. However, Israel will not delegate security matters to international mediators, Gendelman emphasized. "Transition to the next stage of the plan's implementation is possible only after the complete disarmament of Hamas," he asserted, clarifying that Hamas's statements or mediators' promises would be insufficient. Israel needs to independently verify that the organization's offensive weapons have been removed and can no longer be used against its territory and citizens. Only then can progress be made on the international plan, according to Gendelman. He confirmed that Hamas's refusal to disarm would effectively halt the next stage. Israel intends to determine its own security measures, independent of U.S. or other diplomatic initiatives, as "in matters of Israel's immediate security, Israel itself plays the decisive role," Gendelman stated. This stance is linked to the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attack, after which the Israeli leadership will not tolerate terrorist organizations rebuilding their military infrastructure near Israel. Gendelman reiterated the three goals of Israel's military operation in Gaza: the return of hostages, the complete demilitarization of the Strip, and the removal of Hamas from power. He concluded that preventing future attacks from Gaza will remain a primary Israeli security objective, regardless of potential government changes.