Israeli officials express opposition to proposed ceasefire deal with Hamas

On July 31, 2026, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and former Chief of General Staff Gadi Eisenkot publicly condemned a draft ceasefire and disarmament agreement with Hamas, which was reportedly announced by U.S. President Donald Trump overnight. Ben-Gvir described the deal as unacceptable, arguing that halting targeted killings and allowing the withdrawal of Israeli forces would enable Hamas to regroup and execute another massacre similar to the events of October 7, 2023. He insisted on achieving a clear military victory and promoting migration from the Gaza Strip.

Gadi Eisenkot similarly criticized the proposal, stating that any agreement failing to dismantle Hamas's military and governing capabilities would be a total failure. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has remained silent, an anonymous Israeli official cited by Reuters clarified that military forces will not withdraw from the so-called yellow line in Gaza unless a genuine disarmament of Hamas is achieved. Previous conflicting reports suggested that the Gaza issue was not discussed as recently as the day prior, leaving the status of the negotiations uncertain.