New Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza on Thursday, following President Donald Trump's announcement of a phased disarmament deal brokered in Cairo. While the agreement aims to empower a new Palestinian government, Hamas leaders have characterized the document as a mere draft.
Airstrikes in Gaza clash with Trump's Cairo announcement
Military action in Gaza continued on Thursday morning despite the diplomatic breakthrough announced by President Donald Trump. as reported by the Times of Israel, medics in the enclave reported several Palestinians wounded during these recent strikes.
The escalation in Gaza occurs just hours after Trump claimed on social media that a historic agreement had been reached in Cairo. The President stated that the deal would involve the phased disarmmaent of Hamas and other armed groups to facilitate a new Palestinian government working with a "Board of Peace."
Ghazi Hamad's condition for Hamas disarmament
Hamas negotiators have expressed significant reservations about the legitimacy and terms of the reported agreement. Ghazi Hamad, a member of the Hamas negotiating team, told Al Jazeera that the group will not take any action regarding disarmament until Israel completes its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
The nature of the agreement remains a major point of contention between the parties involved. A Hamas source told Reuters that the current document is merely a draft, stipulating that heavy weapons would be kept under Palestinian administration control rather than being transferred to Israel.
The 200 to 320-day timeline and enforcement gaps
The duration of the disarmament process remains a subject of intense debate among international mediators. a Board of Peace official estimated the transition would take between 200 and 320 days, though a US official played down this specific timeframe.
This discrepancy raises critical questions about how the transition will be managed and whether the proposed timeline is realistic. Furthermore, while a US official expressed confidence in Hamas's adherence to the deal, they also noted that Israel remains deeply skeptical of the group's intentions.
Israel's rejection of the 15-point disarmament proposal
Israeli officials have maintained a hardline stance against any deal that does not guarantee total demilitarization of the Gaza Strip. An Israeli official,speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters that the government had previously rejected a 15-point document because it failed to meet their core security demands.
Israel's primary requirement is the complete removal of all weapons from Gaza as a precondition for any peace process. According to the report, the recent proposal did not provide a satisfactory response to these demands,leading to continued military operations despite the diplomatic news from Cairo.
Fatalities including an eight-year-old and an 18-month-old
At least four people were killed during the Israeli military operations on Thursday morning, according to local reports. Among the deceased were an eight-year-old girl and an 18-month-old baby,highlighting the ongoing civilian toll despite the diplomatic movement in Cairo.
The civilian toll of these strikes remains high, with medics in the Palestinian enclave confirming several other individuals were wounded. these casualties come at a moment of extreme tension between the Trump administration's diplomatic efforts and the tactical realities on the ground.
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