Hamas Affirms Commitment to 15-Point Gaza Deal as Board of Peace Weighs New Approach

Hamas stated on Tuesday that it remains committed to the US-backed 15-point Gaza disarmament deal. This comes as reports suggest the Board of Peace is considering a shift in approach to secure the approval of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu has rejected the original framework, which proposed phased disarmament, insisting that no Israeli withdrawal will occur until Hamas is fully disarmed. Jared Kushner, a top aide to Donald Trump, recently held meetings with Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt and subsequently with Netanyahu in Israel. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem stated that the group remains committed to the 15-point plan agreed upon last month, noting that Israel has yet to provide formal approval of the roadmap to mediators. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces announced the death of Tareq Anwar Khamis Ra’i, an Islamic Jihad commander involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks, during a strike in Khan Younis. Separately, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned that only three percent of Gaza’s cropland remains accessible and undamaged.