Hamas and Israel Deadlocked Over Gaza Disarmament Sequence

Senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad insists the new framework is not a standalone deal, but a continuation of the previous Sharm el Sheikh agreement. Hamas demands that Israel first halt all military operations, pull back forces to October positions, and open the borders for humanitarian and commercial aid. Only after these conditions are met, Hamad claims, will the group transfer its arsenal to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, the newly formed technocratic governing body.

Israel has flatly rejected this sequencing. Government officials stated they will not withdraw forces or ease the blockade until full demilitarization is achieved and Hamas has surrendered its weapons. This clash over the implementation phase highlights the fragility of the latest diplomatic push. Without a mediator-led compromise on who acts first, the agreement remains a theoretical framework rather than a functional ceasefire, leaving the future of post-war governance in Gaza in a state of indefinite suspension.