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

An editorial in The Jerusalem Post argues that any Israeli withdrawal from Gaza must be contingent on the verifiable disarmament of Hamas, not on future promises. The article criticizes past negotiations for allowing Hamas to retain military power and leverage, emphasizing that the latest proposal, while more serious, still risks enabling Hamas to remain armed while reconstruction and political recognition proceed. The editorial states, "Israel cannot base a withdrawal on what Hamas says it intends to do." It calls for physical and verifiable disarmament, including the destruction of weapons, production sites, tunnels, and smuggling routes, with independent inspectors ensuring compliance. Furthermore, it asserts that large-scale reconstruction should only begin in independently demilitarized areas under a civilian authority, not while Hamas retains its military capabilities. The piece also stresses that a future Palestinian administration must be a single civilian authority, free from independent militias, to ensure a lasting peace for both Palestinians and Israelis.