Symbolic imageBoard of Peace says Israeli withdrawal only after full Hamas disarmament
After its envoy met Prime Minister Netanyahu on Monday, the US-led Board of Peace said Israeli forces will leave Gaza only once Hamas has handed over all weapons. Israel refuses to pull back before disarmament, Hamas refuses to disarm before a pullback.
What happened
- Trump announced the disarmament roadmap on Thursday, 30 July; Hamas confirmed its agreement the following day.
- Israeli forces hold roughly 64 percent of Gaza; the plan's phase-one "yellow line" would cut that to about 53 percent.
- Israeli strikes on 1 and 2 August killed at least 18 people, Gaza's civil defence said; Al Jazeera's hospital sources counted 19.
- Turkey's intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met Hamas politburo head Khalil al-Hayya in Ankara on the roadmap's second stage, Anadolu reported.
- Egypt, Qatar and Turkiye condemned Israel's targeting of civilians and health facilities as a violation of international law.
The view from outside
The American Conservative, citing documents obtained by Drop Site News, reports Hamas conceded its heavy weapons only after Israel ends attacks, withdraws and allows in food and medicine. FAZ sets out the mechanics: heavy weapons stored, tunnels disabled, and arms remaining under Palestinian control rather than passing to Israel.
What could happen next
- Whether disarmament and withdrawal run in sequence or in parallel remains disputed; no date is set for phase two.
- Finance Minister Smotrich and Minister Strock demand a fresh government vote on the Board of Peace mechanism.
- Hamas says it awaits a clear official response from the envoy and the mediators before further steps.
- Israeli elections are due within months, with the government under pressure from its base, Al Jazeera notes.
Israel: The government will not move from its current line until Hamas is genuinely, verifiably and irreversibly disarmed, and says the published text misstates Israel's positions.
Hamas and Palestinian factions: Hamas says it stays committed to phase two but will hand over no weapons before Israel stops its attacks and pulls back.
Also involved