US Peace Council Insists Gaza Reconstruction Requires Hamas Disarmament, Proposes Gradual Population Transfer

A senior official from the US President Donald Trump's Peace Council told Channel 14 that reports claiming the American administration abandoned the goal of dismantling Hamas and demilitarizing Gaza are completely false. The official emphasized that the council still demands full demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, a stance supported by the UN Security Council and communicated directly to Hamas in negotiations.

The official clarified that Gaza's reconstruction is contingent on Hamas's disarmament, but the approach will be gradual and strategic. Instead of launching a large-scale military operation, the plan involves relocating Gaza's population from Hamas-controlled areas to those under Israeli Defense Forces control, using temporary refugee cities built with light construction.

In Israel, there appears to be a current willingness to postpone fully eliminating Hamas's military and governmental capabilities before upcoming elections. This is influenced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's desire to prioritize other fronts, especially Iran and Hezbollah, where tensions could escalate, alongside significant US pressure to avoid a broad military campaign in Gaza at this time.

However, some voices in Israel warn against the US plan to separate the population from Hamas. Despite its theoretical promise, concerns exist that thousands of Hamas operatives and tens of thousands of supporters could move with the population into Israeli-controlled areas, potentially expanding Hamas's influence. Critics fear Hamas could collect taxes, gather intelligence on IDF forces, and smuggle weapons back into Gaza, fueling ongoing debate about the plan's feasibility.