‘Board of Peace’ to launch ‘Hamas-free’ camps as Israel tightens grip on Gaza

What Happened

According to Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom, the US President Donald Trump-established 'Board of Peace' is preparing to launch 'Hamas-free humanitarian zones' in Gaza, with the first site set to open in Tel Sultan near Rafah 'within weeks'. These zones will house civilians 'with no weapons or affiliation with Hamas', policed by a multinational International Stabilisation Force (ISF) equipped with 'non-lethal weapons' operating from the Israeli Amitai Camp near Gaza under the board's command. While aid and temporary housing will be provided, Board of Peace officials have pledged not to import concrete into Gaza. Concurrently, the Israeli army will continue expanding its control beyond the 'Yellow Line'—a buffer zone that now encompasses approximately 70 percent of the territory and from which Israel has refused to withdraw after the ceasefire's first stage. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the group hoped the ISF deployment would mark 'the beginning of implementing the tasks assigned to them', including separating Palestinians from Israeli forces and halting Israeli violations, and called on the Board of Peace to begin implementing the plan to end the war.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The plan signals a de facto partition of Gaza, with the majority of territory under permanent Israeli military control while the civilian population is concentrated into secured enclaves. It risks entrenching a long-term occupation and reshaping the humanitarian and political landscape, bypassing Palestinian governance and ceasefire agreements. The refusal to allow concrete imports will impede reconstruction, maintaining dependency on aid. The initiative also tests the Trump administration's approach to conflict resolution and the viability of a post-war order without Hamas.

Watch For

Monitor the actual opening of the Tel Sultan camp and the scale of civilian relocation within weeks. Look for reactions from Qatar, Egypt, and the UN regarding the legality and humanitarian impact. Track Israeli military operations beyond the Yellow Line, particularly in Rafah where land razing has been observed. Hamas's willingness to disarm remains a key variable; any escalation in targeted killings could derail the fragile ceasefire. Pay attention to whether the ISF faces resistance or is perceived as collaborating with Israeli forces.