Hamas disarmament cannot wait for the IDF's withdrawal from Gaza - editorial

The Jerusalem Post editorial argues that Hamas disarmament must precede any Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. It criticizes the latest proposal for sequencing that allows Hamas to remain armed while a new Palestinian committee enters Gaza and international bodies begin work. The editorial insists on physical, verifiable disarmament: weapons collected, tunnels destroyed, smuggling routes dismantled, and inspectors with unannounced access. It warns that reconstruction should only expand in areas verified as demilitarized. It notes Hamas has rejected or qualified disarmament, and that anti-Hamas militias are fragmented and not a ready replacement. The piece concludes that both Palestinians and Israelis need Hamas to lose military power.

The Jerusalem Post editorial argues that Hamas disarmament cannot be postponed until after an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. It states that the latest Gaza proposal is better than previous empty language, as it addresses Hamas's weapons, tunnels, command structure, and the link between demilitarization and withdrawal. However, the editorial insists that Israel cannot agree to a process where withdrawal, reconstruction, or political recognition proceed on the assumption that Hamas will disarm later. It emphasizes that Hamas has used negotiations since October 7 to gain time and preserve control, and that its military power remains largely untouched by diplomacy. The editorial calls for physical and verifiable disarmament: weapons collected and placed beyond use, production sites and tunnels destroyed, smuggling routes and command networks dismantled, and inspectors able to enter sites without warning. It warns that large-scale reconstruction while Hamas remains armed risks rebuilding the system that allowed Hamas to embed itself in Gaza. The editorial also notes that anti-Hamas militias and clans are fragmented and not a ready-made replacement, and that any future system must have one civilian authority and no independent militias. It concludes that both Palestinians and Israelis deserve a government not preparing for war, and that the test is whether Hamas is actually disarmed, not whether it signs a clause.