Israeli Strikes May Undermine Trump’s Peace Plan for Gaza
NYT > U.S. > Politics — 2026-08-05 07:05:00 — www.nytimes.com
Soon after President Trump announced a new plan last week to deliver peace and security in Gaza, the Palestinian enclave instead experienced a spike in deadly Israeli bombings, threatening to undermine hopes for long-awaited progress.
### Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan Faces Immediate Setbacks
President Trump’s recently unveiled 15-point plan, released by his Board of Peace, aimed to secure a cease-fire, disarm Hamas, and establish a new administration in Gaza. The plan also called for a complete Israeli withdrawal. However, the announcement was quickly followed by some of the deadliest Israeli airstrikes in Gaza since an October cease-fire, with at least 18 people killed on Sunday, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
### Unclear Details and Immediate Pushback
Key details of Trump’s plan remain unclear, including the timetable for Hamas disarmament. The plan’s lack of specificity has raised concerns that it could unravel before any real progress is made. Israeli officials have publicly rejected the terms of the agreement, with a spokesman for the Israeli prime minister’s office stating, “The version that has been made public does not reflect Israel’s positions.” Israel has not signed the agreement and has conveyed its concerns to American counterparts, particularly regarding the disarmament of Hamas.
### Regional and Local Reactions
The Board of Peace’s high representative for Gaza, Nickolay E. Mladenov, criticized Israel’s recent attacks, noting that civilian casualties and destruction of medical supplies followed “intense efforts” by mediators to reach a deal. Mediator countries Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey condemned what they called “ongoing Israeli violations” in Gaza.
Hamas, for its part, accused Israel of deliberately escalating violence to block the plan, while Israel insisted its strikes targeted Hamas fighters and weapons infrastructure.
### Doubts Over Implementation
Negotiators described Trump’s agreement with Hamas as a “road map” to cement the cease-fire and begin reconstruction. However, immediate doubts arose over whether either side would carry out the agreement. The plan gives parties two weeks to determine a schedule for implementation, but sequencing disagreements have already emerged. Israel insists it will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is completely disarmed, while Hamas says it will only relinquish heavy weapons if Israel halts attacks and withdraws.
### Conclusion
President Trump’s Gaza peace initiative has encountered significant obstacles almost immediately after its announcement. With both Israeli and Hamas officials expressing skepticism and violence escalating on the ground, the plan’s future remains uncertain. The lack of clear details and mutual distrust between the parties threaten to leave Gaza’s population in continued limbo, raising questions about the viability of Trump’s proposed path to peace.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/05/world/middleeast/israel-strikes-gaza-peace-deal.html