Israel has maintained that its troops will not withdraw from their current positions in Gaza unless Palestinian militant group Hamas undergoes what it described as a “genuine disarmament”, even as Hamas insists such a move depends on a complete end to Israeli military operations.
The exchange follows US President Donald Trump’s announcement that the Board of Peace had secured an agreement for the “complete disarmament” of Hamas and other armed factions operating in Gaza.
Speaking on Friday, Trump said Israel was “very happy” with the proposed arrangement, calling it a “big step for the Middle East”.
However, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir rejected the proposal, describing the draft as “not acceptable”.
The proposal forms part of the second phase of a US-mediated ceasefire framework designed to bring the Gaza conflict to an end.
The 20-point initiative, first unveiled in September last year, provides for the establishment of the Board of Peace to oversee implementation, alongside the disarmament of Hamas, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the reconstruction of Gaza.
Addressing a cabinet meeting at Camp David on Friday, Trump said he had reached an “understanding” with Israel regarding the latest disarmament proposal accepted by Hamas, adding that “Israel’s very happy about it”.
When asked whether Hamas would surrender its weapons before Israeli troops withdrew from Gaza, Trump avoided giving a direct response, saying only that Gaza remained “a very complex situation”.
He added that Hamas’s weapons would be transferred to the Board of Peace.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to publicly comment on the latest proposal.
However, a senior Israeli official reaffirmed Israel’s position, saying “there will be no IDF [Israel Defence Forces] withdrawal from the current Yellow Line without the genuine disarmament of Hamas”.
The Yellow Line marks the agreed demarcation within Gaza where Israeli forces were expected to reposition under last year’s US-brokered ceasefire.
The agreement initially left Israel in temporary control of territory behind the Yellow Line, covering about 53 per cent of Gaza.
However, Netanyahu recently said Israeli forces now controlled more than 60 per cent of the territory. In May, he also stated that his “directive” was to expand that control to 70 per cent.
Hamas, in its response, maintained that Israel must first halt its military campaign and withdraw its forces before any disarmament could proceed.
The group said Israel’s commitment to ending its attack on Gaza was a “fundamental prerequisite” for moving forward with the deal, as well as a guaranteed right to “self-determination, establishing an independent Palestinian state”.
Hamas also said it had negotiated “responsibly and positively” with “national consensus among the Palestinian factions”.
Palestinian officials involved in the negotiations believe the decision by Hamas’s new leadership—described as the most significant in the group’s history, was influenced by the worsening humanitarian crisis affecting more than two million people in Gaza.
Earlier on Friday, the Board of Peace released what it called a roadmap for Gaza, reaffirming plans for the phased disarmament of Hamas, the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the deployment of an international stabilisation force.
Reacting to the proposal, 18-year-old Tala, who has been living in a tent since her home was destroyed in Israeli air strikes, expressed cautious optimism.
“Every time people hear about a possible ceasefire, we hope that it will finally end”.
“But when these promises are broken, it creates more fear,” she told BBC Newsbeat.
The university student described life in Gaza as “very challenging”, adding: “Every day comes with a new difficulty, and we are constantly thinking about safety and basic needs.”
“What matters most is stopping the fighting, protecting civilians and setting a new chapter of re-building,” she said.
In Israel, Jonny also expressed hope that the ceasefire proposal would succeed.
“I don’t see an ending to this cycle, but I pray it’s the case,” he told the BBC.
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said his country was ready to move ahead with the agreement but stressed that implementation depended on Hamas’s actions.
“We are looking forward to implementing” the deal, he told CNN, adding: “We have to verify what they [Hamas] are doing, not what they are saying.”
UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, welcomed the proposal, describing it as “the only good news in recent days”.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband called for the full implementation of the 20-point peace plan, including “withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza and respect for the ceasefire by all parties”.
He also said humanitarian conditions “remain appalling” in Gaza and urged Israel to “must immediately end the unacceptable restrictions on aid”. Israel has denied accusations that it is blocking humanitarian assistance.
The conflict began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 others taken hostage.
Israel’s military response has since left more than 73,290 people dead in Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry, whose casualty figures are regarded as reliable by the United Nations.
