Israel Declines Trump's Peace Plan and Hamas Disarmament, Keeps Striking Gaza

Despite a heavily promoted U.S. peace blueprint centered on the disarmament of Hamas, Israel is pressing forward with military operations in the Gaza Strip and formally distancing itself from the diplomatic initiative championed by President Donald Trump.

Israeli forces maintain a rigorous tempo of bombardments across the Palestinian territory.

A Gaza security official reported that Israeli strikes killed 19 Palestinians, including women and children, beginning early Sunday.

The ongoing offensive contradicts a roadmap published Thursday by Trump's Board of Peace, which mandated that Israel cease its military operations fully and without delay.

Palestinian authorities reported that an Israeli airstrike on Saturday decimated a large stockpile of medical supplies.

The Israeli military justified the Saturday strikes by claiming it eliminated two individuals planning attacks on its troops and civilians.

Tel Aviv continues to accuse Hamas of exploiting civilian infrastructure to hide weaponry and fighters, claiming it has destroyed multiple arms depots.

Since an initial October ceasefire announced by Trump, violence has decreased, but Israel still occupies more than 60 percent of the Gaza Strip.

Gaza authorities report more than 1,200 Palestinians have been killed during this period, while Israel recorded the loss of five soldiers and one civilian contractor.

Diplomatic Disconnect

The operational reality on the ground mirrors a growing diplomatic rift between Washington and Tel Aviv.

Hamas announced on Friday it would surrender its weapons to a newly formed Palestinian governing committee under the U.S. framework.

Trump characterized the disarmament pledge as a major milestone and told reporters that Israel was "very happy" with the development.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has notably abstained from publicly addressing the agreement.

Instead, Israeli officials are voicing firm opposition to the published terms. "Israel has conveyed its comments and concerns on the proposed framework to our American counterparts.

The version that has been made public does not reflect Israel's positions," Doron Spielman, a spokesman for the prime minister's office, stated.

Demilitarization Demands

Netanyahu's office insists that Israeli intelligence shows Hamas actively rearming and recruiting since the October truce.

Officials argue the militant group is preparing for future assaults, contradicting the U.S. vision of a deradicalized zone.

"The indispensable first step toward any lasting arrangement is the genuine, verifiable and irreversible demilitarisation of Hamas," Netanyahu's spokesman said. "Anything short of full demilitarisation will leave Hamas with the capability to threaten Israel again."

The U.S. roadmap dictates a phased Israeli withdrawal from the enclave. Tel Aviv firmly rejects any withdrawal until Hamas is comprehensively disarmed, establishing a structural deadlock in the negotiations.

Mounting Political Friction

The discord over Gaza compounds existing Israeli skepticism regarding Trump's diplomatic maneuvers, particularly concerning the war on Iran that commenced in late February.

This friction arrives as Netanyahu navigates a fraught domestic political landscape ahead of October elections.

Confusion surrounding the cessation of hostilities further complicates the diplomatic track.

Mohammad Dahlan, a senior Palestinian political figure instrumental to the Gaza plan, initially claimed Trump aide Jared Kushner assured him Israeli strikes would terminate by Sunday.

Dahlan subsequently walked back the assertion, clarifying that Kushner was merely working with the Israelis to halt the attacks.

The Palestinian official ultimately accused Netanyahu of actively obstructing the most viable opportunity to conclude the war.