Nearly a year after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire was meant to end Israel's bombardment of Gaza, Israeli strikes have killed close to 1,300 Palestinians. Israeli forces continue to hold about 65% of the Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the Trump-led "Board of Peace" 15-point road map, insisting Hamas disarm fully before any Israeli withdrawal.

What has happened in Gaza since the ceasefire?

  1. Continuing Strikes: Israeli strikes since the ceasefire have killed close to 1,300 Palestinians.
  2. Territorial Control: Israeli forces continue to hold about 65% of the Gaza Strip.
  3. Humanitarian Conditions: Much of Gaza's two-million population lives in tent camps amid rubble, with schools and hospitals shut.
  4. Blocked Reconstruction: Aid remains severely restricted, and Israel has blocked reconstruction pending Hamas's disarmament.

What does the Board of Peace road map propose, and why has Israel rejected it?

  1. Phased Disarmament Plan: The road map proposed a phased decommissioning of Hamas's heavy weapons, overseen by U.S.-backed Palestinian technocrats, alongside a gradual Israeli withdrawal.
  2. Hamas's Agreement: Hamas agreed to this phased disarmament process.
  3. Netanyahu's Rejection: Netanyahu ruled out the 15-point document, saying there would be no withdrawal until Hamas gave up "heavy weapons, lighter weapons, all weapons."
  4. Beyond Disarmament: Israel is seeking not just Hamas's disarmament but the total subjugation of Gaza, at continuing cost to civilians and children.

Why is Netanyahu resisting a withdrawal?

  1. Legal Jeopardy: Israel faces genocide proceedings at the International Court of Justice, and the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu.
  2. Domestic Corruption Trial: Netanyahu also faces an ongoing corruption trial before Israeli courts.
  3. Coalition Politics: By promising Hamas's complete destruction, he has sought to retain the support of his hardline right-wing coalition.
  4. October Elections: Any concession on withdrawal risks political repercussions ahead of elections due in October.

What explains the timing of the U.S. peace push?

  1. Fallout from the Iran War: The war on Iran launched by Trump and Israel on February 28 to force regime change triggered a fuel crisis affecting several countries.
  2. Hormuz Disruption: With the Strait of Hormuz barely functioning, rising U.S. petrol and fertiliser costs have begun to affect the American economy.
  3. Midterm Pressure: Waning American sympathy for Israel ahead of the U.S. mid-term elections has added pressure on Washington for a face-saving breakthrough.

Conclusion

The Board's vision of a "New Gaza" — a free-trade zone with privatised infrastructure and no Palestinian representation — resembles an attempt at profiteering after a disastrous conflict. Even so, the underlying 15-point proposal would likely be welcomed by Gaza's battered population. For Hamas, disarmament is now unavoidable, but it must be matched by an actual Israeli withdrawal. Washington must decide whether its decades-long backing of a militarised Israel, on Israel's own terms, is worth continuing. Alternatively, it could use its leverage as Israel's principal arms supplier to compel a genuine withdrawal.

Mains Angle

GS Paper II — International Relations: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests; West Asia and India's foreign policy. Practice question: Critically examine the reasons behind the stalling of the Gaza peace process despite the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, and discuss the options available to the U.S. to compel a genuine resolution. (250 words)