Israel is demanding the complete disarmament of Hamas, including the removal of weapons from Gaza and the full demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, as a precondition for any withdrawal process, a diplomatic source told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.
The 15-point document under discussion does not adequately address these demands, and Israel conveyed its reservations on the matter to former UK prime minister Tony Blair, who is serving as an envoy.
There will be no Israeli withdrawal from the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip before Hamas is disarmed and the Gaza Strip is demilitarized, the source emphasized.
Notably, the issue of Gaza did not come up at all during the meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, the source added.
In contrast, Axios reported that the US expects to make a deal with Hamas in the coming days.
"We think we've managed to bring Hamas to a place where they can't say no," one source familiar with negotiations said. The source added that the Trump administration and the Board of Peace were working towards cutting off Hamas's funding sources abroad.
Another official told Axios that Israel was briefed on the meeting in Cairo.
"Everything is fully coordinated, and Israel knows all the details," a separate source told Axios.
"This is a good deal for Israel because it takes care of the Gaza problem," the source said. "If Hamas cheats, everything stops, and Israel will not have given up anything."
What are mediators discussing in Cairo?
Discussions with mediators in Cairo are continuing and making progress, according to a separate diplomatic source who spoke to the Post on Thursday, as negotiators work to finalize a comprehensive road map for Gaza’s future governance and security arrangements.
According to the source, the road map is designed as a balanced and pragmatic framework centered on the complete decommissioning of all weapons and a phased transition of responsibilities to a technocratic government.
“There will be no exceptions for certain weapons or certain people,” the source said. “One authority, one law, one weapon.”
The source said the proposed framework establishes a process for eliminating all tunnels, weapons depots, and weapons production facilities throughout the Gaza Strip, describing it as a comprehensive effort rather than a limited security arrangement.
Additionally, the IDF would withdraw to the "Yellow Line," where it was positioned following last October's ceasefire, but that has since advanced west of it, according to the Axios report.
Any further withdrawal is dependent on the agreement's implementation and would only occur once Hamas surrenders its weapons, added the report. The IDF would also halt assassinations of Hamas terrorists in Gaza, except when an imminent threat is determined.
At the conclusion of the implementation process, the source said, there would be no remaining terrorist infrastructure in Gaza. Hamas would have no governing or military role, either publicly or behind the scenes, in a model similar to that being applied to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Under the proposal, all weapons, both heavy and light, would come under the full control of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, in coordination with and supported by the International Stabilization Force (ISF), which the source said is led by a two-star US Special Forces general.
The agreement also stipulates that there will be no Israeli withdrawal from the original “Yellow Line” unless full disarmament is implemented.
As part of the arrangement, Hamas would commit to halting all military activity, including the recruitment of new operatives into its ranks. In return, Israel would suspend its targeted killings campaign.
However, the framework makes clear that if new threats emerge, Israel would retain the right to take military action.
The process of storing and surrendering weapons is expected to begin in the coming weeks, once Hamas agrees to this framework, with the weapons being transferred to the ISF and permanently removed from operational use.
Gaza rebuilding process built on reciprocity, source says
The diplomatic source emphasized that the road map is based on reciprocal implementation rather than trust between the parties.
“This entire process is built on reciprocity, not trust,” the source said. “Each side’s fulfillment of a commitment sequences the next commitment of the other side. A verification mechanism ensures compliance.”
The source described the initiative as a turning point for Gaza, saying it was developed after lengthy negotiations guided by US President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Gaza Peace Plan.
“This is a new beginning for Gaza,” the source said. “It has taken a long time to reach this stage, but our guiding light has been President Trump’s Comprehensive Gaza Peace Plan and its objectives of providing a better future for the people of Gaza and security for the people of Israel.”
According to the source, the road map is intended to translate that broader vision into a practical sequence of steps for both Israelis and Palestinians.
“The Road map is a first-of-its-kind agreement that operationalizes the Trump peace plan into steps that both Palestinians and Israelis will have to take to open this new chapter of peace, prosperity, and security for Gaza,” the source said.
Current Cairo talks aimed at reaching deal, source says
“The current talks in Cairo between Hamas and the mediators are aimed at reaching a deal - not just holding another round of negotiations,” a source familiar with the Cairo negotiations told the Post.
“At this stage, it remains unclear whether an agreement will be reached. What is clear, however, is that from the perspective of the mediators and the Board of Peace, there will be no scenario in which only some of the tunnels are dismantled, or only some of the weapons are surrendered. It has to be all of it,” the source said.
Iran urges Hamas to avoid rushing into agreement
Meanwhile, Iran is reportedly urging Hamas to avoid rushing into an agreement and to "play for time," according to Axios.
This occured during the Hamas' delegation's visit to the Iran for the funeral of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in which members met with senior IRGC officials, Axios added, citing a source with knowledge of the meeting.