Hamas inclined to accept Gaza disarmament proposal, ‘put ball in Israel’s court,’ diplomat says

By Jacob Magid

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30 July 2026, 10:06 pm

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Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

Palestinians gather around the site of an Israeli drone strike in Gaza City’s Sabra neighborhood, July 12, 2026. (AP Photo/ Jehad Alshrafi)

Hamas is inclined to accept the Board of Peace’s disarmament proposal for Gaza, recognizing that doing so would “put the ball in Israel’s court,” an Arab diplomat tells The Times of Israel.

Mideast mediators Qatar, Egypt and Turkey — themselves under pressure from the US to achieve a deal — have been leaning on Hamas to get on board, arguing that the terror group can avoid being deemed as the obstacle to an agreement.

In making the case to Hamas, the Mideast mediators argued that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is unlikely to accept the Board of Peace proposal ahead of the October elections, given that it would require a pull-back of troops from Gaza, the diplomat says.