This whole "laid down their arms" business is a red herring. No one, & I mean no one, suggests Israel disband the IDF, or even reduce its readiness. That being said, until recently at least Israel has fought only one existential war, in '48. The rest had limited goals on the part of her antagonists.

Hezbollah laying down its arms & people just survive? Have you forgotten Sabra & Shatilla massacres on the part of Maronite militias? Hezbollah has good reason to be armed.

Hamas, on the other hand, certainly follows an extermationist outlook, the most decisive since Haj Amin al-Husseini. But they are unlikely to lay down their arms, at least not without lots of help from Israel & perhaps Egypt.

And right now they're in the drivers seat...