Trump’s Proposal for Hamas Disarmament and Israel Withdrawal Faces Skepticism

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a “historic” agreement, claiming the Palestinian militant group Hamas agreed to disarm and Israel would retract forces from Gaza. He presented this as a significant step toward peace.

The reaction in Israel seems cautious. Senior officials doubt whether Hamas and other militant groups will genuinely disarm, despite being less formidable than before. The Board of Peace urged Israel to halt its military operations “without delay,” yet fresh strikes were carried out in Gaza, causing casualties and lowering hopes for conflict resolution.

Israel explained the weekend’s strikes aimed at Hamas and other militant groups in various Gaza regions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces upcoming elections, affecting his strategies. Despite aspirations for “total victory” over Hamas, skepticism persists, with concerns about international forces’ effectiveness in replacing Israel Defense Forces (IDF) protection.

Netanyahu’s offensive against Hamas aligns with the fear of constrained actions once Trump’s plan is implemented, noted Shalom Lipner, a fellow at the Atlantic Council and former Israeli prime minister’s office employee.

A ceasefire brokered by the USA, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey has technically been in effect since October 2025. Yet, Israeli attacks persisted in the following months, with over 1,250 fatalities reported by Gaza health officials.

Since the war began in October 2023, 73,375 individuals have died. The conflict ignited from October 7 attacks by Hamas in 2023, resulting in significant Israeli casualties and hostages taken to Gaza.

Progress towards further peace beyond the initial ceasefire remains sluggish due to ongoing Israeli attacks. Mahmoud Basal, Civil Defense spokesperson in Gaza, reported intensified Israeli raids.

Over the weekend, Israel claimed strikes neutralized Islamic Jihad and Hamas members, targeting weapons sites nearby key locations like Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey urged stopping the bombing, highlighting Israel’s obligations under international law and ceasefire terms.

UN experts accused Israel of genocide against Palestinians, facing legal challenges in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) instigated by South Africa. Israel denies these accusations, while Gaza faces a humanitarian crisis worsened by extreme weather.

Nickolay Mladenov from the Board of Peace urged Netanyahu to cease Gaza strikes. The Board stated IDF withdrawal would occur once Hamas fully disarms, but Israel controls most of Gaza now despite the initial Yellow Line boundary set in October 2025.

Hamas demands Israeli troop withdrawal to the Yellow Line before considering disarmament. Weekend violence disrupted medical supplies, contradicting disarmament efforts. Mladenov stresses both parties must adhere to agreements.

The lack of trust threatens future peace processes, according to Yossi Mekelberg of Chatham House.