Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said Hamas seeks a 'Hezbollah model' in Gaza — retaining armed capabilities and political control while avoiding full disarmament, according to a statement reported by Ynet.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar on Monday evening reiterated that Hamas is pursuing a 'Hezbollah model' in Gaza — retaining armed capabilities and political control while avoiding full disarmament — and dismissed the group's reported willingness to make way for a technocrat government as a tactical ploy. Sa'ar's remarks, reported by Ynet, came after earlier Monday reports that the so-called Hamas government in the Gaza Strip had resigned, which Israeli officials had already characterized as a 'meaningless spin' designed to buy time and avoid being declared in violation of the ceasefire agreement. The minister's statement, published at 13:01 Jerusalem, represents the government's consistent position that any post-war arrangement must include the complete dismantling of Hamas's military and governing capacities under the Trump plan.
As The Zioneer reported between 13:01 and 13:01 Jerusalem earlier Monday, senior Israeli officials — including Minister Sraya Harush — dismissed the resignation of the Hamas government as a 'big spin' intended to prevent a declaration of breach of the ceasefire. By 13:01, Sa'ar was already on record via N12 and i24NEWS saying Hamas wants the Hezbollah model: keeping its weapons while appearing to cede civilian control, and that the technocrat government offer is a tactic to evade disarmament. The thread shows consensus across multiple Israeli news outlets (Ynet, N12, i24NEWS) reporting the same ministerial statements, with no conflicting versions.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Monday, the Trump plan — which Israel insists on implementing in full — requires the dismantling of Hamas and other terror groups and the demilitarization of Gaza. Sa'ar's framing of a 'Hezbollah model' draws on the precedent of Lebanon, where Hezbollah retained its armed wing while participating in political institutions, a scenario Israel has long warned against for post-war Gaza.
The specific Hamas statement that prompted Sa'ar's latest comment was not detailed in the report. Neither is there confirmation that Hamas formally adopted any such model — Sa'ar's assessment remains a ministerial characterization.
8 developments
- StrongTrump administration reportedly blocks Israeli 'creeping annexation' plan in Gaza
- DevelopingHamas's al-Hayya tightens line on Gaza disarmament in talks with Trump officials
- DevelopingEgypt proposes Hamas hand over weapons as 'deposit' to advance Trump plan, Kan reports
- DevelopingHamas spokesman Hazem Qassem welcomes Trump's statement, urges US to pressure Israel on ceasefire
Source and signal
- Internal intake