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Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/01/17/gaza-hamas-israel-trump-peace-board/
As Long as Hamas Refuses to Disarm, Israel Cannot Withdraw
(Washington Post) Editorial - While the White House said President Trump's Gaza peace plan has entered its second phase, on the ground in Gaza, the situation remains fraught. The biggest obstacle is Hamas's refusal to lay down its arms, which means Israel refuses to commit to withdrawing from Gaza. And why should they? What happened on Oct. 7, 2023, can never be allowed to happen again. In the three months since the ceasefire took effect, Hamas has emerged from its tunnels weakened but still able to assert dominance in Gaza due to the absence of any alternative security force. The terrorists' refusal to disarm has prevented the creation of an international force to provide security. No country is willing to commit ground troops if it means battling Hamas. Privately, they'd all prefer Israel do that dirty work. One proposal floated by Hamas is to decommission or "freeze" some weapons in depots overseen by Arab countries. Another is offering a "buy back" program to pay militants to voluntarily surrender their light firearms. Neither would amount to real disarmament. The reconstruction of Gaza cannot start until Hamas no longer poses a threat.