Israel insists on the complete disarmament of Hamas and full demilitarization of the strip before any military withdrawal can occur.
Negotiations mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey have produced rare momentum regarding the second phase of President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, according to sources close to Hamas and regional diplomats. Representatives from Hamas arrived in Cairo with what one official described as a positive and good
response. Yet this diplomatic opening immediately crashed into an immovable barrier in Jerusalem.
An Israeli official declining to be named told reporters that the proposed terms were entirely unsatisfactory. The disagreement centers on whether disarmament precedes withdrawal or happens alongside it, leaving the multi-month diplomatic stalemate hanging over an enclave where daily violence continues unabated.
Israel Demands Complete Disarmament Before Any Withdrawal
The core dispute in Cairo revolves around the timing and scope of security guarantees. A diplomatic source speaking to Jpost emphasized that Israel views the removal of all militant infrastructure as an absolute prerequisite.
That hardline stance was reinforced by the same diplomatic source, who confirmed that there will be no Israeli withdrawal from the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip unless full disarmament is implemented first. Reservations regarding the current 15-point roadmap were communicated directly to former UK prime minister Tony Blair, who serves as an envoy for the initiative.
Meanwhile, the diplomatic track has drawn sharp friction at the international level. Russian Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Anna Evstigneeva informed the Security Council that a roadmap prepared by Nikolay Mladenov—envoy for the Board of Peace—had failed to gain the support of either Israel or Hamas, with Gaza’s demilitarization serving as the primary stumbling block.
Divergent Proposals on Weapons Storage and Territorial Control
While international mediators attempt to bridge the gap, the two warring sides hold fundamentally different visions for how weapons should be handled. Sources close to Hamas indicated that the militant group was willing to confine and store heavy weapons under a Palestinian body rather than surrender them directly to Israel. Hamas did not issue an official comment on the storage arrangement.
In contrast, the framework discussed in Cairo by Egyptian sources and diplomats envisions a far more rigorous mechanism. The roadmap dictates that all weapons, both heavy and light, would come under the full control of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza. This body would operate in coordination with an International Stabilization Force led by a two-star US Special Forces general.
The diplomatic source described the security architecture under the guiding principle of one authority, one law, one weapon
. Under this blueprint, the process requires eliminating all tunnels, weapons depots, and manufacturing facilities across Gaza. In return for halting military recruitment and activity, Israel would suspend its targeted killings campaign, though it would retain the right to strike if new threats emerge.
Washington Expresses Optimism as Ground Reality Remains Grim
Optimism in Washington contrasts sharply with the pessimism in Jerusalem. Axios reported that US officials expect to finalize an agreement with Hamas in the coming days, with sources noting that the Trump administration and the Board of Peace are actively working to cut off Hamas funding channels abroad.
Another official briefed Axios that Israeli authorities were fully briefed on the Cairo meetings. Everything is fully coordinated, and Israel knows all the details,
a separate source stated, adding that the arrangement would protect Israeli security interests because if Hamas cheats, everything stops, and Israel will not have given up anything.
Yet these diplomatic projections stand in stark contrast to the situation on the ground. Israeli military forces continue to expand their occupation, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu having directed the army to take over 70 percent of the enclave. On Thursday alone, health officials reported that separate Israeli strikes killed at least six Palestinians, including two children, bringing the total death toll past 1,200 since the initial truce took effect.
Discover more from Archyworldys
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.