Hamas Rejects Trump Disarmament Plan, Ceasefire Talks Collapse

Ceasefire negotiations over the Gaza Strip have collapsed after Hamas formally rejected the central disarmament requirement of U.S. President Donald Trump's 20-point reconstruction plan. The deadlock, confirmed during talks in Cairo led by the Board of Peace under former UN official Nickolay Mladenov, has pushed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare for a potential return to combat and left international stabilization efforts in disarray.

Hamas has refused to relinquish its weapons, stating that disarmament could only be discussed within the framework of a future Palestinian state. Khalil al-Hayya, a Hamas leader in Gaza, declared negotiations at a standstill and accused the Israeli government of violating the Sharm el-Sheikh ceasefire agreement by blocking a technocratic committee from entering the territory and failing to meet signed obligations, including reopening the Rafah crossing and withdrawing troops. Al-Hayya called on Trump and the international community to pressure Israel into implementing the ceasefire.

The U.S.-led Board of Peace, which sought to tie Gaza's reconstruction to dismantling Hamas's arsenal, has signaled it will no longer hold Israel to ceasefire terms if Hamas continues rejecting the disarmament framework. Maj. Gen. Yaniv, commander of the IDF Southern Command, has presented Israeli political leadership with a new operational plan reassessing ground maneuver strategies for a potential renewed campaign. Israeli officials allege Hamas is exploiting the diplomatic pause to rebuild military capabilities, reconstruct tunnel systems, and violently crack down on local militias to reassert civilian governance.

Hamas still controls roughly half of the Gaza Strip despite U.S. threats and ultimatums. International mediators including Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey have been criticized for failing to exert serious pressure on the group. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reports 837 Palestinians killed and 2,381 injured by Israeli forces since the ceasefire was announced on October 11, 2025. The envisioned International Stabilization Force remains unmaterialized, and the technocratic governing committee is dysfunctional, damaging U.S. credibility in the region.