Israel will not withdraw its troops from their current positions in the Gaza Strip until there is verifiable and genuine disarmament of Hamas, according to a senior Israeli official, despite renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict.
The statement came after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the proposed Board of Peace had reached an understanding with Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups regarding their phased and complete disarmament. Trump described the proposal as an important step toward achieving long-term stability in the Middle East and said Israel was satisfied with the framework.
Israeli officials, however, stressed that any further withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would depend on concrete actions rather than political commitments. According to Israel’s position, Hamas must surrender its heavy weapons, dismantle its military infrastructure, and allow international verification before Israeli forces reduce their military presence.
For its part, Hamas said it would only agree to hand over its heavy weapons if Israel completely ends its military operations, withdraws its forces from Gaza, and accepts the Palestinian right to self-determination, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Hamas also stated that its negotiating position has the backing of other Palestinian factions.
The proposed agreement forms part of the second phase of the U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire initiative. The plan includes the gradual disarmament of armed groups, a phased Israeli military withdrawal, the deployment of an international stabilization force, and a large-scale reconstruction program for Gaza.
The United Nations has described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as catastrophic. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the proposal one of the few encouraging developments in recent weeks and urged all parties to seize the opportunity for a lasting ceasefire.
Meanwhile, international pressure continues to grow. The United Kingdom and several European governments have called not only for the full implementation of the ceasefire but also for significantly increased humanitarian assistance to Gaza’s civilian population. Israel continues to reject accusations that it is deliberately restricting aid deliveries.
The war began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 hostages were taken. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, whose casualty figures are regularly cited by the United Nations, more than 73,000 people have been killed since Israel launched its military campaign, although the figures cannot be independently verified during the conflict.
Sources: BBC, Reuters, United Nations, Israeli government, Hamas statements.
