Zini's Warning in the Cabinet: 'Hamas's Agreement Is a Deception Exercise'

In a stormy late-night cabinet discussion, Shin Bet chief David Zini warned that Hamas's agreement to the 15-point document is a 'strategic deception process' designed to buy time until the elections. Head of IDF Military Intelligence research division, Brig. Gen. Ofir Mizrahi-Rosen, explained that Hamas has not abandoned its vision of destroying Israel. Ministers, including Elkin, Strook, Smotrich, and Dichter, demanded Netanyahu halt the move and return to offensive operations in Gaza. Netanyahu pledged to act and sent amendments to the documents to the US.

In a stormy late-night meeting of the political-security cabinet, dedicated to the agreement on activating the multinational force in Gaza and the roadmap for disarmament up to a Palestinian state, severe warnings were voiced. Shin Bet chief David Zini warned that 'Hamas's signing event is a strategic deception process, aimed at buying time and ensuring we do not return to operate in Gaza until the elections,' and that it is a 'strategic ambush.' Head of IDF Military Intelligence research division, Brig. Gen. Ofir Mizrahi-Rosen, explained that Hamas agreed to the 15-point document but has not abandoned its vision of destroying Israel, and warned against the internationalization of the conflict, the entry of foreign forces near Israeli communities, and the inclusion of Qatar and Turkey in the force activation mechanism. Ministers Ze'ev Elkin, Orit Strook, Bezalel Smotrich, and Avi Dichter demanded Netanyahu officially announce Israel's opposition to the document and return to offensive operations. Smotrich said: 'Hamas should not remain. It should be erased, period.' Strook called the 'Ramallah Law' 'anti-Semitic and unprecedented since Nazi Germany.' Netanyahu said he received the document after the last cabinet, that there are understandings from November 2025 with the US that contradict it, and that amendments were sent. National Security Council head Shmuel Ben Ezra said there is great pressure on Israel to enter the 14-day period and return to the yellow line.