Gaza Disarmament Deal Falters as Israel Refuses to Withdraw
The disarmament deal President Trump announced for Gaza began to unravel within hours on Friday, as Israel refused to pull back its forces and Hamas set fresh conditions. Israeli officials said troops would not withdraw until Hamas “really” disarmed, while Hamas insisted Israel must first halt its attacks. Britain and the European Union welcomed the plan but warned that verifying any disarmament would be the hard part.
The rapid fraying exposed how far apart the two sides remain despite Mr Trump’s claim of a “historic” breakthrough. A far-right member of Israel’s cabinet branded the deal “unacceptable”, and Israeli officials said their forces now controlled more than 60 per cent of the territory and would not surrender ground first. Underlining the fragility, the Israeli military said it had killed a Hamas commander in a Gaza City strike just hours after the deal was unveiled, and Palestinian medics reported further deaths. Washington warned Israel’s prime minister he risked Mr Trump’s “disappointment” if he obstructed the plan. Watch whether the two-week window for a timetable holds or lapses.