Israel conveys concerns to the U.S. about Hamas disarmament deal

Middle East ConflictIsrael conveys concerns to the U.S. about Hamas disarmament deal The comments — the first clear public reaction from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office — follow a deadly weekend in the Gaza Strip that saw at least 19 people killed, according to the local health ministry.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00Add NBC News to GooglePalestinians mourn a family killed in a strike on Gaza City00:37Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleAug. 3, 2026, 7:57 AM EDTBy Yuliya Talmazan and Yarden SegevIsrael says it has shared concerns with the United States about the proposed disarmament deal with Hamas, raising new doubts about the agreement touted by President Donald Trump.“Israel has conveyed its comments and concerns on the proposed framework to our American counterparts. The version that has been made public does not reflect Israel’s position,” Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for Netanyahu’s office, said in comments the office sent to NBC News.The comments — the first clear public reaction from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office — follow a deadly weekend in the Gaza Strip. At least 19 people were killed in Israeli attacks on Sunday, according to the local health ministry. The Israeli military said the strikes targeted Hamas militants and infrastructure.Family and friends mourn the death of a victim killed in an Israeli airstrike, at Al-Shifa Hospital on Sunday, in Gaza City. Ahmad Hasaballah / Getty ImagesSpielman said the “indispensable first step” toward any lasting arrangement is the “genuine, verifiable, and irreversible demilitarization of Hamas,” which Spielman said meant the militants physically surrendering its weapons. Hamas has indicated that while it agreed to disarm, this was conditional on Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza and complete cessation of “all forms of aggression.” “Over the past eight months, according to Israeli intelligence, Hamas has used the ceasefire to rearm, recruit thousands of additional t...