Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood near Gaza’s Yellow Line this week and said Israel is not withdrawing from the territory it now holds while Hamas remains armed. During his visit to an IDF position in Gaza, he put the issue plainly: Israel will remain until the work of disarming Hamas is finished.

That position will be criticized as obstructionist. It is also the only one that makes sense.

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Much of the debate over President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan has focused on sequencing: Does Hamas disarm first, or does Israel withdraw first? The Board of Peace has already moved toward the sensible answer. As the Washington Examiner reported, Hamas is expected to take verified steps before Israel is required to withdraw.

But that still leaves the most important question unresolved.

Who gets to decide that Hamas has actually disarmed?

The current Gaza roadmap gives an International Verification Committee responsibility for certifying compliance, supported by an International Stabilization Force. Those institutions can be useful. They can inspect weapons sites, monitor compliance, and document violations.

But they should not have the final word.

On........

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