Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir visited troops in Gaza on Wednesday, just days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu raised the issue of Hamas disarmament in talks with US President Donald Trump.

"The year 2026 will be a decisive year in shaping the security reality of the state of Israel. Our determination to disarm Hamas of its weapons is absolute," Zamir told troops in Gaza.

"We will not allow the Hamas terrorist organisation to rebuild its capabilities and threaten us," he added.

Trump and Netanyahu presented a united front on Monday after the two discussed several issues as part of crucial talks on moving to the next stage of the fragile Gaza truce plan, including the disarmament of Hamas.

"If they don't disarm as they agreed to do, then there will be hell to pay for them," Trump told reporters after the two leaders met. "They have to disarm in a fairly short period of time."

Hamas has repeatedly said it would not surrender its weapons.

Since October 10, a truce in Gaza has largely halted the fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas, but some White House officials fear both are slow-walking the second stage of the ceasefire.

Under the second stage, Israel is supposed to gradually withdraw from its positions in Gaza, while Hamas is supposed to lay down its weapons.

An interim authority is meant to govern the Palestinian territory, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be deployed.

Both sides, however, have alleged frequent ceasefire violations.