PALESTINIAN resistance group Hamas recently made a major concession by agreeing to give up its weapons. It should be remembered that along with its political activities, the movement has an armed wing dedicated to the liberation of Palestine.
The group’s weapons will be surrendered to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, the Palestinian technocratic body formed under US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace. In essence, Hamas has thrown the gauntlet to Israel: it is ready to surrender its weapons, but will the Zionist state end its occupation of Gaza? This remains the million-dollar question. Mr Trump was upbeat about the development, saying that Israel was “very happy” about it. However, while there had been no official reaction from Tel Aviv at the time of writing, most Israeli politicians, including some in the cabinet, have decried the move, calling for the destruction of Hamas.
It will be interesting to see whether Israel honours its end of the deal and vacates occupied Palestinian territory in Gaza. Going by past precedent, the Israelis are not known for keeping their word. Also, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces an election in October, and there is widespread anti-Palestinian sentiment amongst the electorate.
But the Israeli leader may not want to annoy the American president by appearing to sabotage Mr Trump’s Gaza peace plan. Lest we forget, Israel has murdered over 73,000 Palestinians — more than 21,000 of them children — since the Oct 7, 2023 attacks, and while its killing spree has lessened in intensity, it has not stopped completely since the ceasefire came into effect last year. Moreover, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains appalling.
It should be kept in mind that Hamas and other Palestinian groups have continued their armed struggle against Israel because the Zionist state has closed all avenues of peacefully resolving the Palestine question. Almost the entire Israeli political class is opposed to a Palestinian state, illegal settlements continue to proliferate, and Gaza — which even before the 2023 attacks was virtually under siege — lies in ruins. Meanwhile, Israeli provocations against Al Aqsa have not stopped.
If this situation is to change, there must be a clear pathway for a Palestinian state, an end to Israeli brutalities against the Arab population, and complete withdrawal from all occupied territories. Knowing the current political climate in Israel, this is asking for the moon. However, Mr Trump, who sees himself as a ‘peacemaker’, and his BoP must press Israel to at least start the process by withdrawing from Gaza, and allowing unimpeded humanitarian assistance into the Strip.
If Tel Aviv does not leave Gaza, it will show the world that it is not serious about peace, and is committed to the occupation of Palestine and to the extermination of the Palestinian people.
Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2026
