Gaza Peace Council: Israel not bound by truce if Hamas refuses to hand over weapons
Gaza Peace Council: Hamas refuses disarmament before completing phase one commitments
The “Peace Council” established by US President Donald Trump on January 22, 2026 faces criticism over its stalled performance, while documents revealed that the council granted Israel exemption from some of its obligations under the ceasefire agreement if Hamas does not agree to disarm.
This coincides with negotiations in Cairo that have so far failed to bridge viewpoints, amid ongoing civilian casualties and a worsening humanitarian crisis in the strip.
Exempting Israel from phase one commitments
The Times of Israel revealed on May 4, 2026 that Nikolay Mladenov, the senior representative of the Peace Council in Gaza, and Aryeh Lightstone, senior advisor to the council, sent a letter to Ali Shaath, head of the Palestinian National Committee for Gaza Administration, stating that Israel would not be bound to halt attacks or ensure the entry of humanitarian aid into the strip if Hamas does not agree to disarm.
The letter stated: “Hamas’s rejection of the framework within a reasonable timeframe, as determined by the Peace Council and after consultation with the parties, renders these commitments null and void.”
This measure comes despite the ceasefire agreement signed in October 2025 not stipulating Hamas’s disarmament as a condition for continuing the truce, as this clause was deferred to the second phase of negotiations.
The letter indicates that Israel did not comply with eight clauses of the first phase, but received “guarantees” from Tel Aviv to recommit to them.
Gaza Board of Peace ‘will not hold’ Israel to truce terms until Hamas accepts disarmament demands: Reporthttps://t.co/bClEgvGLWF
— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) May 6, 2026
Hamas’s weapons
Informed sources told the Jerusalem Post on May 5, 2026 that the gaps between Hamas and the Peace Council regarding disarmament are “very wide.”
The sources said Hamas’s response was effectively “yes, but” with a “but” reflecting broad demands and conditions, making “bridging the gaps nearly impossible.” According to the same sources, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a meeting on Tuesday, May 5, with Mladenov, US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, along with Lightstone and senior council officials.
Two sources described the meeting as “positive,” with an Israeli official stating that “there is no gap between Israel and the Peace Council regarding the ultimate goal – disarming Hamas.”
In another development, the Associated Press reported that Israeli forces are present in more than half the area of the Gaza Strip, where nearly two million Palestinians now live in a narrow strip along the coast.
Disarmament plan and Peace Council deadline
The framework presented by Mladenov to Hamas on April 3, 2026 provides for handing over all weapons gradually over eight months.
The first phase includes Hamas giving up its heavy offensive weapons and destroying its tunnels, while the later phase even prohibits possession of light weapons.
The Peace Council set a deadline for Hamas to accept the framework, but the movement responded by demanding that handing over weapons be within a framework leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
According to Arab sources cited by the Times of Israel, Hamas insisted on not discussing the second phase until Israel completes its commitments in the first phase.
Civilian casualties and continued violations
Gaza health authorities told the Associated Press that Israeli military operations have killed at least 834 Palestinians since the ceasefire agreement took effect in October 2025.
According to the same sources, the death toll since the war began in October 2023 has exceeded 72,600 people. The Times of Israel reported more than 500 Israeli violations of the truce, resulting in the killing of 342 Palestinians and injury of 875 others, along with widespread destruction and obstruction of aid entry.
Israel says its raids aim to thwart “imminent threats” from Hamas against its forces.
Humanitarian crisis in Gaza
The Gaza Strip is suffering from a humanitarian crisis amid Israeli restrictions on aid entry, according to news agency correspondents. According to the Associated Press, large numbers of rodents have spread in displacement camps, with one displaced woman saying she woke up to find her toes “eaten.”
The Israeli government’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) confirmed it had allowed the entry of 1,000 traps and 90 tons of pesticides at the request of the United Nations.
Officials say Israel is preventing the entry of basic relief supplies such as tents, prefabricated housing, and heavy equipment for debris removal, hindering any genuine reconstruction effort.
A Peace Council official admitted that performance is “not ideal,” but expressed optimism that it could “improve significantly” by next October.
The US-backed Board of Peace has told Gaza technocratic committee officials that Israel is not obligated to uphold ceasefire commitments if Hamas refuses to disarm, a document obtained by the Times of Israel has revealedhttps://t.co/UO28dsT5sz pic.twitter.com/86pobKe4bY
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) May 7, 2026
Criticism over the Peace Council’s stalled performance
In this context, writer and political analyst Ahmed Al-Tantani said that the Peace Council has not fulfilled any of the promises made by the US president, describing it as having become a “formal framework and cover for the continuation of Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip.”
He added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might seek to use the conditions of the strip and its inhabitants in his election campaign.
Al-Tantani pointed out that Hamas has repeatedly announced its readiness to hand over governance, linking the issue of weapons to the political path.
For his part, Ahmed Jamil Azm, professor of political science and international relations at Qatar University, believed that the council has not improved the conditions of Gazans, noting that the agreement stipulated the entry of 600 aid trucks daily, while no more than 200 trucks actually enter.
He wondered why council member ministers do not visit Gaza and speak directly to Palestinians.
Azm explained that Hamas has not refused to discuss the issue of weapons, expressing surprise that this issue is only discussed by Washington and Tel Aviv.
As for strategic and international security studies researcher Kenneth Katzman, he said that investors will not come to Gaza as long as Hamas remains in power and its weapons have not been dismantled.
He did not rule out an escalation of confrontation in the strip, considering that the atmosphere is unsuitable for the Peace Council’s work.
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