A source close to the Board of Peace (BoP) has stated that Israel’s targeted killings of Hamas operatives, while potentially justified, will not lead to the dismantling of the group. The source criticized Israel’s current approach, saying the government focuses on eliminating individual members but leaves Hamas’s military capabilities and political control intact.
These comments emerge amid ongoing debates over the next steps following a framework agreement reached on July 30 between Hamas and the BoP for a phased disarmament of the terrorist organization. Announced by then-US President Donald Trump, the agreement envisioned Hamas and other armed factions in Gaza surrendering their weapons, with the eventual withdrawal of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and transfer of civilian and security responsibilities to new Palestinian and international authorities. An initial 14-day period was designated to prepare the implementation mechanism.
The negotiation effort involved Hamas, the BoP, and mediators including Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey. The framework called for an inventory and storage of weapons, dismantling of Hamas’s military assets, and oversight by an international mechanism, tied to broader governance changes in Gaza.
Despite this, Israel has rejected the framework as it currently stands. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explicitly stated in August that the IDF would not withdraw until Hamas was genuinely disarmed, dismissing the proposed 15-point plan for Gaza. Israel initially limited its military actions to respond only to “immediate threats” during the 14-day calm sought by the BoP to facilitate disarmament preparations, though the government did not formally endorse the ceasefire.
In recent weeks, Israel resumed targeted operations against Hamas operatives, including those linked to the October 7 attacks and hostage-taking. Israeli officials claim Hamas exploited the relative quiet to rebuild and strengthen its military infrastructure rather than move toward disarmament. The BoP source said Israel’s approach resembled the policy before the October 7 attacks.
The BoP advocates for a renewed 14-day calm period, restricting Israeli strikes to immediate threats, alongside full cooperation in the logistical steps toward voluntary disarmament. The source emphasized that rapid, transparent dismantling of Hamas’s military assets—such as revealing tunnel locations—would be “excellent,” but if Hamas fails to disarm, Israel would gain international backing for forceful action.
Recent Israeli operations have included targeted killings and arrests of senior Hamas commanders. Notable among them was the killing of Nael Abu Obeid, Hamas’s Rafah Brigade commander, and other key field leaders. Israeli special forces also captured Muin al-Arbid, head of Hamas’s General Security apparatus, during a raid in Gaza City.
Although these actions degrade individual components of Hamas’s military wing, the BoP source noted they do not address the organization’s continued political and military dominance in Gaza.
The standoff highlights a fundamental disagreement over whether disarmament can be achieved through negotiated, internationally supervised means, or will require continued Israeli military pressure until Hamas’s threat is neutralized. The BoP’s framework rests on dismantling Hamas’s military and governance structures to enable a transition toward lawful governance and reconstruction, while Israel remains wary that pauses in operations will permit Hamas to recover and reorganize.