Will Israel withdraw from Gaza if Hamas disarms?

What Happened

Israeli government officials expressed doubt about Hamas's announced readiness to disarm, insisting that disarmament must be complete and unconditional before any Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The statement came after Hamas said it was prepared to lay down its weapons, according to the officials. The impasse emerges within a US-brokered plan proposed by President Donald Trump, which calls for an Israeli military withdrawal, the deployment of an International Stabilization Force, and the establishment of a new Palestinian police force. Israel says it has no plans to leave unless Hamas fully disarms, while Hamas demands that Israeli troops pull out first. The dispute was reported in the context of a discussion on implementing Trump's plan.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The sequencing dispute over disarmament versus withdrawal highlights a critical obstacle in translating ceasefire proposals into action, as each side maintains preconditions that block progress on the US-brokered initiative. This stalemate risks prolonging the war, complicating post-conflict security arrangements, and testing US mediation credibility in the region.

Watch For

Concrete next events to monitor include any mediated talks between Hamas and Israel aimed at resolving the sequencing, formal US proposals to bridge the gap, and reactions from mediating states Qatar and Egypt. Additionally, watch for Israeli military deployments or Hamas statements on weapons handover as signals of potential breakthroughs or further deadlock.