Israel Tells US That Hamas Has No Plans to Disarm, Is Rebuilding for a New War

Senior Israeli military officials have presented US counterparts with intelligence assessments showing that Hamas has no intention of disarming and is actively rebuilding its forces in Gaza, according to a report by The Times of Israel. The assessment concludes that the group has repaired much of its tunnel network, replenished weapons stockpiles, and restored its ranks to roughly 30,000 to 40,000 operatives, levels similar to before the October 7, 2023, attack.

The briefing complicates US-led efforts to broker a broader postwar arrangement that depends on Hamas giving up its weapons. Israeli officials reportedly told their American counterparts that Hamas has shown no interest in cooperating with any international body on disarmament, and that military pressure, rather than negotiation, remains the only realistic path to achieving it.

The assessment suggests Israeli and American planners are bracing for a longer-term, open-ended confrontation with Hamas rather than a near-term resolution, even as diplomatic channels around a broader Gaza arrangement continue to be pursued in parallel.

The disclosure comes as Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Israel Katz, have sharpened their rhetoric around ongoing security threats just days before the October 27 election, with the government arguing that a decisive hand on security policy remains essential regardless of who ultimately forms the next coalition.