Farewell to arms?

Palestinian resistance group Hamas has reportedly made a significant concession by agreeing to relinquish its weapons. This move involves surrendering the group's arms to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, a technocratic body established under former US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace initiative.

In essence, Hamas has issued a challenge to Israel: the group is prepared to disarm, but the question remains whether the "Zionist state" will end its occupation of Gaza. This condition is presented as the central, unresolved issue. Former President Trump expressed optimism about the development, stating that Israel was "very happy" with the news. However, at the time of reporting, Tel Aviv had not issued an official reaction, and many Israeli politicians, including cabinet members, had criticized the move, advocating for Hamas's destruction.

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Hamas recently made a major concession by agreeing to give up its weapons.

The article raises doubts about Israel's willingness to uphold its end of the agreement, particularly regarding vacating occupied Palestinian territory in Gaza. It suggests that, based on past behavior, Israelis are not known for keeping their word. Furthermore, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces an election in October, and anti-Palestinian sentiment is reportedly widespread among the electorate.

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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.

Despite these domestic pressures, Netanyahu might be hesitant to alienate the American president by appearing to undermine Trump's Gaza peace plan. The article also references the ongoing conflict, stating that Israel has killed over 73,000 Palestinians, including more than 21,000 children, since the October 7, 2023 attacks. While the intensity of violence has decreased, it has not ceased entirely since last year's ceasefire.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. The article argues that Hamas and other Palestinian groups have continued their armed struggle because Israel has closed off peaceful avenues for resolving the Palestine question. It points to the Israeli political establishment's opposition to a Palestinian state, the proliferation of illegal settlements, and the ongoing siege and devastation of Gaza, even before the 2023 attacks. Israeli provocations at Al-Aqsa also continue.

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Mr Trump was upbeat about the development, saying that Israel was “very happy” about it.

For the situation to improve, the article contends that there must be a clear path toward a Palestinian state, an end to Israeli actions against the Arab population, and a complete withdrawal from all occupied territories. Given the current political climate in Israel, this seems highly improbable. However, the article urges Trump and his Board of Peace to pressure Israel to at least initiate the process by withdrawing from Gaza and allowing unimpeded humanitarian aid. Failure to do so, it concludes, would demonstrate Israel's lack of seriousness about peace and its commitment to occupation and the "extermination of the Palestinian people."

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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.