Hamas has urged the United States to pressure Israel into withdrawing from the Gaza Strip, stating its readiness to implement the second phase of a U.S.-brokered peace agreement. This move comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserts that Israel never agreed to withdraw before Hamas is fully disarmed, creating a significant dispute over the terms of the potential deal.
A Hamas official told Agence France-Presse that the group and other factions have confirmed to mediators their willingness to begin implementing the agreement. "Hamas is urging the U.S. administration to exert pressure on Israel to compel it to abide by the agreement and move to the second phase," the official stated.
The proposed deal, negotiated in part by the Trump administration, outlines a phased approach. Under the second phase, Hamas and other groups would reportedly hand over their weapons while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) simultaneously withdraw from Gaza, paving the way for a technocratic government to take over. The reconstruction of Gaza, following such an agreement, has been estimated by the United Nations, European Union, and World Bank to cost $71.4 billion.
Former President Donald Trump had previously hailed Hamas's agreement to lay down arms as a "monumental step toward lasting peace and security," noting that Israel would, in tandem, carry out a phased withdrawal. However, Netanyahu has publicly stated that Israel did not agree to the drafted terms, emphasizing that the IDF would remain in Gaza until Hamas's weapons are surrendered.
"President Trump thinks — or his team thinks — that they can get Hamas to disarm and demilitarize Gaza," Netanyahu said in a video address. "They sent us a draft. We did not agree to it. It was not our draft. We sent back our comments."
Israeli officials, including Brig. Gen. Ofir Mizrahi-Rozen, head of the IDF’s Military Intelligence Research Department, and Israel Security Agency chief David Zini, have expressed skepticism, characterizing Hamas's response as a tactic to stall and prevent Israel from resuming military action. They described the situation as a "strategic ambush" by Hamas, suggesting the group has not abandoned its aim to destroy Israel. The draft agreement originated from separate negotiations between the Trump-controlled Board of Peace and Hamas.