Hamas Conditions Peace Deal on Israeli Compliance with Sharm el-Sheikh

Ghazi Hamad, a key negotiator for Hamas, described the proposed deal as a painful framework but insisted that implementation remains contingent on Israel honoring the terms of the previous Sharm el-Sheikh agreement. According to Hamad, those obligations include a cessation of hostilities, the withdrawal of forces, and a significant increase in humanitarian aid. Only after these conditions are met would the group consider handing over its arsenal to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, the newly formed technocratic body tasked with local governance.

The path forward remains blocked by deep-seated mutual distrust. While the NCAG has publicly welcomed the roadmap, the political landscape in Israel offers little room for movement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing an upcoming October election, is under intense pressure from right-wing coalition partners who explicitly reject any withdrawal until complete demilitarization is achieved. This fundamental disagreement over the sequence of actions mirrors the failures of previous diplomatic efforts, leaving the civilian population in Gaza trapped in a cycle of skepticism and survival.