Israel May Scuttle Hamas Disarmament Deal

President Trump says Israel is “very happy” about a Hamas disarmament deal announced by the Board of Peace but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to comment publicly on the proposal and one high-ranking official is throwing cold water on the plan.Hamas, on Friday, confirmed that it had agreed to the deal but said it will not disarm unless Israeli forces fully withdraw first. A Hamas official told Reuters that the terror group would refuse to implement the deal if Israel does not approve the deal.Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, said the agreement “is not acceptable to Israel,” in an X post. Other statements to Israeli media attributed to a “senior Israeli official” said that Israel will not carry out any withdrawal from Gaza as required by the deal.Mr. Trump, during a cabinet meeting at Camp David, called the agreement a “great breakthrough” but said it could still face struggles because it is a “very complex situation.” Mr. Trump ducked a question from the press about whether the withdrawal or disarmament would take place first under the deal but said Israel was on board. “We do have an understanding with Israel. Israel is very happy about it, Israel helped us and they’ve been very good,” Mr. Trump said.The agreement calls for all militias in Gaza to turn over their weapons “according to an agreed upon timetable.” They would then be decommissioned and stored by the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza that was established in January under a United Nations security council resolution and Mr. Trump’s plan to end the Gaza conflict.Mr. Trump said Friday that the Board of Peace would take possession of the weapons. The deal would not eliminate all weapons in Gaza. The agreement contains provisions for personal weapons that would be subject to the regulations of the Gaza administration.The president said the agreement moved forward because of the Iran war. Tehran has propped up the Hamas government with hundreds of millions of dollars annually and has supplied arms and training to its forces. Iran’s military capabilities have been denigrated and its economy has suffered under American attacks and a naval blockade.While the fate of the agreement is uncertain, it was getting positive reaction. The United Kingdom’s foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, said he welcomed the announcement that Hamas will disarm. “Conditions for the people of Gaza remain appalling. Israel must immediately end the unacceptable restrictions on aid so that more food, medicine and support can reach those who need it,” Mr. Milband said in a statement he posted on X.The European Union foreign affairs high representative, Kaja Kallas, said the deal will be a constructive step towards peace if it is implemented. “A lot needs to fall in place for this to work. Success depends on the full commitment of all parties. Verifying Hamas’ compliance will be a significant challenge. Israel would need to eventually withdraw from Gaza,” Ms. Kallas said in an X post.United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres told reporters Friday that the roadmap must be implemented “without any questions, skepticism, or determination to undermine it.”

Israel May Scuttle Hamas Disarmament Deal

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