Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on 5 August that Israeli forces will not withdraw from their current positions inside Gaza until Hamas is completely disarmed — a hardline stance that places him at odds with the latest ceasefire roadmap promoted by US President Donald Trump. The statement, delivered via a video released on social media, underscores deepening tensions between Jerusalem and Washington over the shape of any lasting Gaza settlement.

Netanyahu's Position

'We are instructing IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldiers to do whatever is necessary to protect themselves, our territory and our citizens,' Netanyahu said in the video. On the deal Trump publicly described as having been reached by the so-called 'Board of Peace' for the 'complete disarmament' of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, Netanyahu was unequivocal: 'The White House sent us a draft, but we did not agree to it. It is not our draft. We sent our comments.'

Hamas Conditionally Accepts the Roadmap

A day after Trump's announcement, Hamas said it had agreed to the 'latest version of the roadmap' for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement following what it described as 'fierce' negotiations. However, the group conditioned any weaponry arrangements on a complete halt to what it called 'aggression,' a full Israeli withdrawal from the enclave, and tangible progress on reconstruction — conditions that appear incompatible with Israel's stated position.

Civilian Toll and Regional Condemnation

Over the preceding weekend, Israeli strikes reportedly killed dozens of people across Gaza, including children and other civilians. The strikes drew a joint condemnation on Monday from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkiye — the three countries serving as mediators in the Gaza ceasefire talks. The statement marked a rare unified public rebuke from the mediating bloc.

What the Proposed Roadmap Entails

According to senior US administration officials, Hamas had earlier agreed to relinquish both its civilian and military governing role in Gaza under an internationally backed framework. The proposal, announced by Trump as part of his broader Gaza peace initiative, goes beyond a ceasefire by outlining a plan to dismantle Hamas's governing structure entirely.

Under the framework, a body called the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza — described as an independent Palestinian authority — would assume responsibility for civilian administration and internal security during a transitional period. All civilian and security responsibilities would be transferred to this committee, which would become the sole authority overseeing public institutions, essential services, and law and order across the Gaza Strip. The document also calls for the committee to conduct a comprehensive audit of Gaza's financial and administrative affairs before reconstruction begins.

Senior officials described this as the first time Hamas has agreed to an international framework requiring it to surrender its governing role while allowing a new Palestinian authority to administer the territory.

What Comes Next

With Israel publicly rejecting the current draft and Hamas attaching significant conditions to its acceptance, the gap between the two sides remains wide. The position of mediators Qatar, Egypt, and Turkiye — already strained by the weekend strikes — will be critical in determining whether negotiations can bridge the divide. Any durable agreement will require Israel and Hamas to reconcile fundamentally opposed red lines on disarmament, withdrawal, and reconstruction sequencing.