A senior United States official indicated that plans under discussion by Washington and Israel to press for Hamas’s disarmament in Gaza are premised on the extension of amnesty to Palestinian fighters who surrender their weapons, according to reporting by Reuters. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official conveyed that US policymakers were hearing increasing internal discussion about disarmament and expected it to occur within a negotiated framework, with amnesty understood as a central incentive. The official further suggested that disarmament would be treated as a binding condition of any agreement and that failure to comply would constitute a breach. The remarks situate the US approach as programmatic and conditional, reflecting confidence in mechanisms designed to facilitate weapons handovers while attempting to stabilize the post-ceasefire environment, as reported by Reuters.
Gaza Ceasefire Second Phase, Captive Recovery, and Ongoing Violations Shape Diplomatic Context
The US comments emerged as France publicly urged the implementation of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan, following the recovery of the remains of the last Israeli captive from the enclave. Pascal Confavreux, spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wrote on X that there was immense relief that no hostages remained in Gaza and emphasized that the next phase should move the situation from a ceasefire toward lasting peace, expanded humanitarian aid, and a credible political horizon for a two-state solution. The truce, secured in October by US President Donald Trump, was designed to halt hostilities after more than two years of war; casualty figures and destruction levels have been cited by Palestinian authorities and international monitors, while Israel has reported more than 1,300 alleged ceasefire violations since the agreement began. The second phase calls for Hamas’s disarmament, a gradual Israeli military withdrawal from areas where it still controls more than half of the Gaza Strip, and the deployment of an international force. Hamas, in statements carried by regional media, has said Israel must fully implement the ceasefire framework, particularly by allowing aid entry and completing its withdrawal. Developments on the ground have remained volatile. Israel announced on Sunday that it had located the body of the last captive, Ran Gvili, during operations in eastern Gaza City. The Wafa news agency reported extensive bulldozing near al-Sanafour and the al-Batsh cemetery, with graves desecrated during the search, alongside reports of casualties from shelling and gunfire. Separately, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said on Monday evening that nine Palestinian detainees released by Israel had arrived via Red Cross teams. Since the ceasefire, Palestinian health officials report hundreds killed and more than a thousand wounded, while Israeli authorities have continued to tightly restrict humanitarian aid, allowing only minimal supplies into Gaza.