Israeli officials say troops will not withdraw from their current positions in Gaza until Hamas has “genuine” disarmament.
The situation remains tense after US President Donald Trump said a proposed agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza was reached. However, far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir dismissed the draft as “not acceptable”.
According to sources close to the negotiations, Israel’s position is that any withdrawal from Gaza without the disarmament of Hamas would be unacceptable.
Hamas has stated that handing over its heavy weapons is contingent on Israel ending all forms of aggression and withdrawing its forces from Gaza. The group said it had negotiated “responsibly and positively” with national consensus among Palestinian factions.
The 20-point plan, unveiled in September last year, aimed to end the war in Gaza by creating a Board of Peace to oversee the agreement’s implementation, including disarmament of Hamas, withdrawal of Israeli troops, and reconstruction of Gaza. The plan was part of a US-brokered ceasefire that aims to bring an end to the conflict.
However, Israel has not yet commented on the latest proposal from Hamas, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying his country’s position remains that “there will be no IDF [Israel Defence Forces] withdrawal from the current Yellow Line without genuine disarmament”.
The Yellow Line is a designated demarcation point within Gaza agreed to by both parties following last year’s ceasefire. Israel has maintained control over more than 60% of Gaza, while Hamas controls around 40%.
In its statement, Hamas said ending “all forms of aggression” and withdrawing from Gaza was a fundamental prerequisite for moving forward with the deal.
Palestinian officials involved in the talks believe that the decision by Hamas’s new leadership to negotiate under far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir is driven by the devastating humanitarian conditions facing more than 2 million Palestinians in Gaza, who are living in “very challenging” and “unstable” circumstances.
The proposed agreement has been met with skepticism from some Palestinian officials, including Tala, an 18-year-old resident of Gaza, who expressed hope that it would finally bring an end to the conflict. However, she also stated that daily life remains “very challenging”, adding: “Every day comes with a new difficulty, and we are constantly thinking about safety and basic needs.”
The situation in Gaza continues to be volatile, with tensions remaining high between Israel and Hamas.
Source: BBC Top Stories
Based on reporting from BBC Top Stories.
