On July 30th, local time, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the so-called 'Peace Committee' initiated by the United States had reached a 'historic agreement'. Under this agreement, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and all other armed groups in the Gaza Strip will fully disarm, and Israel will also withdraw its troops from the area.
Trump posted on social media that this agreement is a significant milestone in implementing his "Gaza 20-point plan," a "key step toward lasting peace and security," and an "important step toward achieving a Gaza Strip that is ultimately governed by a new Palestinian government." He also emphasized that through this agreement, "Israel will receive the security it deserves."
According to the agreement, the Gaza Strip will be gradually taken over by a new Palestinian government in the future. This government will work together with the ‘Peace Committee’ to oversee local governance, while ensuring that Israel no longer faces the threat of ‘terrorist attacks’ from Gaza. He emphasized that the threat posed by Hamas’s attacks on Israel and the resulting conflicts must not be allowed to recur.
According to his introduction, the agreement will be implemented in phases. As the disarmament process of Hamas is completed, Israeli troops will withdraw gradually. The international stabilization forces will work together with the newly formed Palestinian police force to maintain security in Gaza and the surrounding areas.
Trump also thanked Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey for their mediation efforts in promoting the agreement. He said that although significant progress has been made, there is still a lot of work to be done.
According to Reuters, both Hamas and the Israeli embassy in the US have not responded to requests from the public for comments on Trump's post. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia cited statements from Hamas officials, stating that an agreement with Israel has been reached, and Hamas will soon issue a formal statement.
A Hamas official and a diplomat close to the Cairo negotiations told Reuters that whether the talks can continue will depend on Israel's response and whether it will allow for an agreement on a wide range of issues.
However, earlier on Thursday, an anonymous official revealed that Israel had rejected a proposal.
The official said: “Israel demands that Hamas disarm completely, including removing weapons from Gaza and achieving full demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, as a prerequisite for any process. The relevant documents did not respond satisfactorily to these demands, and Israel has expressed its opposition.”
Two Egyptian sources said that Hamas has agreed to several contentious points, including the transfer of weapons. However, it has requested changes in the definition of “infrastructure that will be demolished”. They also added that more negotiations are underway.
So far, the reality on the ground in Gaza is still far from this roadmap. The Israeli military continues to expand its military occupation of Gaza. Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that Israel plans to expand the area under its control to 70% of the territory.
Health officials said that Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Thursday resulted in the death of at least two children, one woman, and three men. The Israeli military claimed that the targets were Hamas militants.
According to Gaza health officials, since the ceasefire took effect, Israeli attacks have caused the death of over 1,200 Palestinians, most of whom are civilians. The latest death toll has further increased this number.
