Hamas: Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ must stop Israel’s killing in Gaza

Published On 17 Feb 2026Hamas pressed President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” to force Israel to stop the “ongoing violations” of the Gaza deal brokered by the United States last October.The controversial body’s first formal meeting takes place on Thursday in Washington, DC as beleaguered Palestinians in the war-battered territory wait for the second phase of the peace agreement to fully come into force.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Hamas rejects Netanyahu aide’s 60-day ultimatum for group to disarmlist 2 of 4‘Jordan is next’: West Bank annexation signals ‘silent transfer’list 3 of 4‘Zionist to the core’: Swiss commentator slams Israeli bobsleigh teamlist 4 of 4After dozens died in Israeli jails, death penalty law rattles Palestiniansend of list“The war of genocide against the Strip is still ongoing – through killing, displacement, siege, and starvation – which has not stopped until this very moment,” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said in a video statement.More than 600 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza since the Hamas-Israel truce deal began on October 10, 2025, according to the Health Ministry.At least 1,600 others have been wounded in Israeli shelling, gunfire, and air strikes.‘Lift the siege’Qassem also called on Trump’s board to facilitate the entry of the committee of technocrats chosen to govern the destroyed Strip – and begin its vast reconstruction efforts to “end the suffering of the population”.“We call for lifting the siege on Gaza and opening the crossings, and not being content with the partial and minimal opening … and the accompanying violations by the occupation against travelers,” he said.“We warn against the [Israeli] occupation using this council as a cover to continue the war on Gaza and to prevent reconstruction.”On Tuesday, Al Jazeera sources reported Israeli artillery shelling of the Tuffah neighbourhood in Gaza City in the north of the Strip. Israeli tanks also opened fire with heavy machine-gun rounds in the southern city of Khan Younis.