Israel was being restrained before Hamas was disarmed

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a 15-point Gaza roadmap, emphasizing that Israel would not withdraw from territory it controls before Hamas is genuinely disarmed. The core disagreement with the U.S. plan is the sequencing, specifically whether Israel should relinquish military leverage while Hamas retains weapons and power. Reports indicate that even before Netanyahu's public rejection, pressure on Israel led to operational constraints, with the IDF tightening rules for targeted killings in Gaza, requiring personal approval from the chief of staff for actions previously authorized by lower commanders. This policy change followed calls from international officials and countries like Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey for Israel to halt strikes. The article argues that Western diplomacy often confuses the appearance of a process with a change in reality, creating a situation where Hamas's obligations are deferred while Israel's restraint is expected to be immediate. The author warns that an International Stabilization Force deployed before Hamas is disarmed could inadvertently stabilize Hamas rather than the Gaza Strip, turning the promise of demilitarization into a substitute for actual demilitarization.