Disputes over Hamas disarmament threaten Gaza peace plan progress

The Guardian - World NewsEN 5 min read 100% complete by Julian Borger in JerusalemFebruary 25, 2026 at 03:28 PM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

Progress on the Gaza peace plan is threatened by disputes over Hamas's disarmament. Israel is demanding Hamas disarm quickly, potentially within 60 days under a US ultimatum, and has threatened renewed military action if this isn't met. The US-brokered ceasefire's second phase involves Hamas disarming, Israeli withdrawal, and a Palestinian interim administration backed by international forces. However, the plan's vagueness on sequencing is causing friction. The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) is preparing to manage the territory and plans to present Hamas with a six-month disarmament plan, but its ability to enforce this remains unclear. The situation is further complicated by the lack of explicit confirmation from the US regarding the ultimatum.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Cairo 35% Bezalel Smotrich 40% Gideon Saar ×240% National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) ×245% Israel Defense Forces (IDF) 50% Donald Trump ×260% United States ×370% Israel ×480% Gaza Strip ×685% Hamas ×990%

Keywords

gaza peace plan 100% hamas disarmament 100% ceasefire 70% israeli forces 60% ultimatum 50% donald trump 50% palestinian administration 50% demilitarize gaza 40% full-scale war 40%