Gaza ceasefire stalls as Israel and Hamas deadlock over disarmament and withdrawal
Gaza ceasefire negotiations remain largely stalled in November 2026, over a year after a ceasefire began in October 2025. The Trump administration's Board of Peace reached an agreement in July on Hamas disarmament and Palestinian civilian governance, but Israel rejected the plan in August, demanding Hamas disarm fully before Israeli forces withdraw. Hamas says it won't disarm unless Israel pulls back first. While a new Palestinian technocratic government was established to run Gaza, military strikes have continued despite the ceasefire. More than 1,600 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began. Negotiations have stalled over the sequencing of Israeli withdrawal, Hamas disarmament, and weapons restrictions. Key mediators include Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United States. The situation has left Gazans in tent camps with limited aid access as winter sets in.
Key facts
- Ceasefire began October 3, 2025; stalled in second-phase negotiations as of November 2026
- Trump's Board of Peace announced disarmament agreement July 30, 2026; Netanyahu rejected 15-point plan August 9, 2026
- More than 1,600 Palestinians killed since ceasefire started, plus 765 killed in first phase according to Palestinian Ministry of Health
- National Committee for Administration of Gaza established January 2026 as technocratic governing body
- Sticking points: sequencing of Israeli withdrawal versus Hamas disarmament, weapons restrictions, and humanitarian access
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Left-leaning outlets emphasize Israeli violations of the ceasefire and obstruction of peace efforts. They highlight that Israel has continued strikes killing civilians, failed to withdraw as promised, introduced new military demands, and that Palestinians have adhered to commitments while Israel has reneged. The focus is on humanitarian access restrictions and displacement concerns.
Right-leaning coverage: Right-leaning sources frame Hamas as untrustworthy and emphasize that Israel must achieve full disarmament before withdrawal. They highlight Hamas's continued control in some areas, reports of Hamas sidestepping disarmament demands, and argue Israeli security concerns are legitimate. The focus is on preventing Gaza from becoming a terror base again.
Limits of this briefing
Some reporting is based on anonymous sources or secondhand accounts. Right-leaning Israeli perspectives are primarily from official Israeli statements rather than independent outlets. Recent prisoner exchange talks mentioned in latest reports lack confirmed details on numbers or dates.
Sources
- Al Jazeera: Gaza Board of Peace announces Hamas disarmament agreement: What we know Left
- CNN: Israel rejects Trump's Gaza peace plan, saying no withdrawal until Hamas disarms Centre
- Times of Israel: One year into ceasefire, vexed Gazans say they're still living like war never ended Right
- International Crisis Group: Hollow Promises: Resetting Gaza's Ceasefire Centre
- The National News: UN countries urge Israel's incoming government to open Gaza to unrestricted aid Centre