All events

military · geopolitical

In 2022, Scott Sweetow wrote, “Of Roadside Bombs and Drones: Putin’s Looming Insurgency Problem,” where he argued Ukraine’s fight against Russia would rely on a combination of conventional and asymmetrical insurgent tactics. Four years of combat later, we asked Scott to revisit his arguments.Image: National Information Warfare Center PacificIn your 2022 article, you argued that Ukraine’s tech-driven resistance could rapidly evolve into an insurgency-style force. Four years in, how have those assessments held up? Could one argue that Ukraine today operates more like an insurgency in some respects than a conventional state military? Classic insurgencies pit asymmetric or guerrilla forces against organized, The post The Evolution of Ukraine’s Asymmetrical Combat Tactics appeared first on War on the Rocks .

military · geopolitical

In late May 2026, South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back unveiled a roadmap to achieving one of Seoul’s top military acquisition goals: nuclear-powered submarines. This roadmap is heading in the wrong direction.During last month’s inaugural meeting of the Future Defense Strategy Committee, South Korea published its Basic Plan for the Development of Nuclear-Powered Submarines. Chaired by President Lee Jae Myung, the committee was formed to help South Korea build robust, self-reliant defense capabilities. During the event, Lee’s opening remarks underscored the symbolic significance of the nuclear submarine capability and stressed the program’s role in “strengthening the Republic of Korea’s defense The post South Korea Could Build Nuclear Submarines, But It Shouldn’t appeared first on War on the Rocks .

military · geopolitical

A single bribe nearly ruined a defense partnership most people didn’t know even existed. It took India and Italy almost a decade to recover.The story of how that rupture happened — and what it exposed about Italy’s quiet but deep role in India’s military — is essential to understanding why both countries now treat their renewed ties as something too valuable to lose again.When Indian authorities cancelled the AgustaWestland helicopter contract in 2014, the fallout went far beyond the headlines. Torpedo supplies to the Indian Navy’s Scorpène-class submarines froze, upgrades to over 20 Sea King helicopters stalled, and a naval The post Too Big To Break Again: India, Italy, and the Defense Partnership That Almost Wasn’t appeared first on War on the Rocks .

military · geopolitical

In the public perception, it seems like a big deal for Germany to publish a military strategy for the first time. But let me pour a little cold water on that. A form of military strategy has always existed. Where today we have a National Security Strategy paired with a military strategy and Plan for the Armed Forces, the past offered the White Paper, Defence Policy Guidelines, and the Bundeswehr concept, which spelled out the armed forces’ structure in more concrete terms. Yet even the new military strategy, released in late April, reads more as analysis than as a clear The post A Claim to Lead, a Hesitation to Act: Germany’s New Military Strategy appeared first on War on the Rocks .

military · geopolitical

In 2024, Paul Scharre and Michael Depp wrote, “Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear Stability,” where they argued integrating artificial intelligence into the nuclear chain of command presents both opportunities and risks. Two years later, as AI becomes increasingly integrated into military systems and processes, we asked them to revisit their arguments. Image: Senior Airman Jason Wiese via Wikimedia CommonsIn 2024, you argued that integrating artificial intelligence into the nuclear chain of command presents both opportunities and risks. Where does that integration stand today? Is nuclear AI a priority for the Department of Defense, or does it currently take a back seat The post Nuclear Stability in the Age of AI appeared first on War on the Rocks .

military · geopolitical

To understand how close Myanmar’s pro-democracy resistance came to victory last year — and how far it has slipped since — there is no sharper microcosm than the story of a Gen Z sniper. In April 2025, a female teenager, Anina, enraptured the world, her youth-driven “Spring Revolution” a vivid foil to the sclerotic forces of military dictator Min Aung Hlaing (officially called the Tatmadaw). When her unit captured the town of Falam, fortune seemed on the resistance’s side. Yet, a year later, regime troops stormed Anina’s hometown, a stunning blow to the resistance.Many observers had predicted the junta’s impending The post Misreading Myanmar’s War: Why the Junta’s Recent Gains Don’t Mean Imminent Victory appeared first on War on the Rocks .

military · geopolitical

Nuclear policy debates are at their best when they force hard questions about risk, deterrence, and military necessity. They are at their worst when disagreement is recast as bad faith. In 2018, as an outgrowth of a rigorous policy review process, the Trump administration’s Nuclear Posture Review identified a need for supplemental low-yield nuclear capabilities to augment the U.S. nuclear arsenal. This was presented as an effort to raise the nuclear threshold of adversaries who may believe they could employ nuclear weapons in limited ways to escalate their way out of failed or failing conventional conflict.To address this concern, the The post Not Imaginary: The Deterrence Gap is Real and America Needs Low-Yield Nukes appeared first on War on the Rocks .

military · geopolitical

The extent of China’s drone dominance — and how to decouple from it — has long been a source of debate and anxiety in Washington. Last month, the Wall Street Journal reignited controversy by publishing a visual analysis of military quadcopter components, exploring China’s advantages in parts manufacturing and cost. The director of the Defense Innovation Unit objected to the report, stating on X that “By leaving out the dozens of U.S. companies that have plunged into drone component manufacturing, this article disappoints.”Underlying this debate is disagreement about how to measure drone supply chain security. At the very top of The post At a Glance: American Quadcopter Component Manufacturing appeared first on War on the Rocks .

military · geopolitical

The amphibious invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, remains the largest and most complex amphibious operation in history. On the first day alone, Allied forces landed eight divisions, including five amphibious assault and three airborne, totaling roughly 160,000 personnel. That force more than doubled within days.Normandy was unprecedented in scale but not in kind. A Taiwan invasion would present the reverse problem: Taiwan’s size is not the unprecedented part — the operational challenges are. Analysis of a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan typically emphasizes the People’s Liberation Army’s rapid modernization and the possibility of strategic surprise. Far less attention The post The Three Nevers: To Invade Taiwan, China Would Have to Make Military History Thrice appeared first on War on the Rocks .

military · geopolitical

During a recent conference on the People’s Liberation Army, I heard the same question posed to attendees and paper writers: “How would China react to U.S. force posture change X, Y, or Z?” or “How would the Chinese military respond to U.S. strikes in certain locations?” Having participated in dozens of unclassified wargames at the RAND Corporation and elsewhere, I hear a similar refrain when playing the “red team.”This is a reasonable and legitimate question. Policymakers and war planners should understand likely Chinese responses in studying and preparing for possible contingencies between China and the United States.To make well-grounded assessments The post The Blind Spots in Chinese Military Studies appeared first on War on the Rocks .

military · geopolitical

For many observers, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s speech on the future of NATO, delivered in Brussels on June 18, 2026, constituted a perfect example of how the Trump administration is angrily abandoning the longstanding U.S. commitment to European security. The prevailing picture is that the administration is eager to shift the burden of Europe’s defense and is thus moving to withdraw U.S. forces from the continent, even though Europe is moving to do more militarily. Hegseth stated, “we’re doubling down on our effort to make NATO what it always was supposed to be, a balanced alliance with Europe in The post Misguided and Misunderstood: Trump’s Approach to U.S. Troops in Europe appeared first on War on the Rocks .

military · geopolitical

What do you do when two identities that make up your deepest self find themselves on opposite sides of a moral and spiritual battlefield?I am Catholic. I have been one for over 20 years since I made the life-altering decision to join a friend for Mass one day. My faith became a spiritual and ethical foundation at a time I sorely needed it, so much so that for a time, I contemplated entering the priesthood, which replaced my previous career goal of entering the CIA. I eventually realized that teaching was my true calling and decided to pursue that path The post A Catholic Security Scholar’s Case for Responsible Military AI appeared first on War on the Rocks .

military · geopolitical

The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have exposed a strategic reality that military planners are only beginning to confront: In a data-centric age, digital infrastructure has become part of the battlespace. Data centers and cloud regions are now the digital backbone of military power and economic prosperity. As such, they present attractive targets for rapidly proliferating long-range strike systems, drones, and cyber capabilities. As the protective value of physical distance erodes, strategic depth — once conceived in geographical terms — must now be measured in the resilience of data and compute.Alex Rough detailed the physical vulnerability of data The post Gathering Clouds: Building Digital Strategic Depth in the Compute Age appeared first on War on the Rocks .

military · geopolitical

The most produced American military aircraft of World War II was not a small fighter, a trainer, or a simple utility airplane — it was a complex four-engine heavy bomber called the B-24 Liberator. Over the course of five years, American industry produced a staggering 18,482 of these bombers, and they served in every theater of the war.The B-24 was a workhorse with strategic impact, but it would not have had its utility — or possibly even existed — were it not for its wing.Of course, all airplanes need a wing to fly. But the B-24 Liberator’s wing was special: The post The Davis Wing, the B-24 Liberator, and the Self-Made Bet That Paid Off appeared first on War on the Rocks .

military · geopolitical

When the United States and Iran announced their framework agreement on June 15, attention focused on the direct U.S.-Iran dimensions of the deal, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade, and the fate of Iran’s nuclear program. But the agreement also included a commitment to the “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.” Washington had spent months treating Lebanon as a separate issue in negotiations, even as the Israel-Hizballah conflict remained active under a nominal ceasefire in place since April 16.It was ultimately this second front that The post Going Over the Brink: How Hizballah’s Risk Strategy Made Lebanon Impossible to Ignore appeared first on War on the Rocks .

military · geopolitical

On Feb. 28, 2026, President Donald Trump announced the commencement of Operation Epic Fury, a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran. Among the mission’s goals was the overthrow of the Islamic Republic. “When we are finished,” Trump told the Iranian people, “take over your government. It will be yours to take.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed Trump’s message, saying: “Our joint action will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands.” To be sure, Washington and Jerusalem had other objectives — above all, preventing the Islamic Republic from acquiring nuclear weapons The post An Unlearned Lesson: The Sorry Record of Regime Change Operations in the Middle East appeared first on War on the Rocks .

military · geopolitical

Nineteen weeks ago, Iran faced the combined might of the most powerful country in the world and the most advanced military in the Middle East. Today, it is dictating the terms of the peace.When the memorandum of understanding was signed last month, President Donald Trump declared, “The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Congratulations to all!” and told the ships of the world to start their engines. Iran’s response was to keep striking and impose toll collection on the world’s most critical shipping lane while expanding its influence in Iraq, where it is increasingly seen as The post Outgunned, But Not Outplayed: Iran’s Theory of Victory appeared first on War on the Rocks .

military · geopolitical

Editor’s note: This is the third article in a limited series celebrating American defense technologies born from wartime and their effects on broader national security, politics, and society. This series will run for several weeks to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, and winners will be selected by a reader vote undertaken through our newsletter later this summer. Prior installments can be found at the Arsenal of Innovation page. In the half-century since the Gates Commission established the all-volunteer force — and especially over the last 25 years — the relationship between the American soldier and the state has changed profoundly. Military service has become The post MOLLE, PALS, and the Empty Loops of America’s Civil-Military Divide appeared first on War on the Rocks .

military · geopolitical

The relationship between Congress and the Pentagon over the past year has been marked by public disagreements and frustrations over lawmakers’ concerns about the Iran War, and by what some lawmakers view as politically motivated firings of top military leaders. In many ways, the House and Senate versions of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act reflect lawmakers’ efforts to check the Pentagon’s policy power.Innovation efforts are generally a bright spot in these political battles. While the reforms proposed this year across the chambers were more modest than last year’s transformational SPEED and FoRGED Acts, lawmakers continue to advance The post Reading through the Lines of the FY2027 NDAA appeared first on War on the Rocks .

military · geopolitical

Before the twentieth century gave armies antibiotics, the leading killer of American soldiers in wartime was neither enemy fire nor shrapnel. Two-thirds of the roughly 620,000 deaths in the U.S. Civil War came from diseases like typhoid and dysentery. Spread through contaminated water and crowded camps, they were eventually controlled through inoculation and field sanitation rather than the antibiotics that would not arrive until the following generation. Later in World War I, American forces lost more men to disease than to combat: 63,000 to 51,000.By 1940, military medicine had largely closed that gap. Vaccines, sterile surgical technique, sulfa drugs, and The post The Blood Bank and the Logistics of Wartime Medicine appeared first on War on the Rocks .

military · geopolitical

The hardest lesson of the Iran war for a US military “that has dominated the blue skies for generations,” two Stimson Center experts argue, “may be that the decisive contest has moved below.”

military · geopolitical

The jet went down on Friday near the Miramar airbase in San Diego.

military · geopolitical

Hamas says it has accepted a disarmament plan for Gaza which will see it lay down its arms and Israeli troops withdraw from the territory.

military · geopolitical

US Centcom says ’30 commerical vessels’ redirected during Iran blockade US Central Command (Centcom) said it has “redirected 30 commercial vessels, disabled 2, and boarded 2 to ensure full compliance” as of today. “The US military has also permitted nearly 30 ships to pass through the blockade for humanitarian aid," it said in a statement on X.

military · geopolitical

The 'Board of Peace' announced a Palestinian body will take Hamas weapons. That's not what Trump said Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Fri, 07/31/2026 - 18:16 The US president told reporters on Friday that the board itself will handle the handover Palestinian fighters from the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, are seen inside an underground tunnel in Gaza, on 18 August 2014 (Mohammed Salem/Reuters) Off US President Donald Trump on Friday told reporters that the "Board of Peace" will be the one to collect Hamas's weapons as the group begins to disarm, even though the board itself had announced that a Palestinian technocratic body will assume that role. The details matter because the statements marked the first on-camera opportunity for the president to build confidence in the Board of Peace announcement - an organisation for which he is chairman for life. "As Hamas disarms as part of this plan, who do you see is taking possession of those weapons that they have? Does that go to the new government?" a reporter asked Trump during his cabinet meeting at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland. "It's going to be run by the Board of Peace. This Board of Peace has been amazing. It's led by some amazing people," the president responded. Just hours earlier, the board had shared on X that there would be "a framework that includes full demilitarization, de-radicalization, and the transfer of all civilian and security authorities in Gaza to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG)". "Only the NCAG will hold, store or control any weapon in the Strip," the Board said. That language was likely key to ensuring Hamas agreed to the handover, given it has repeatedly made clear it will only deal with other Palestinians, in a bid to demonstrate national unity. "This is just kind of the latest manifestation of the chaotic nature of this," Guy Ziv, the associate director at the Meltzer Schwartzberg Center for Israel Studies at American University, told Middle East Eye. Bishara Bahbah, the Palestinian-American former chair of Arab Americans for Trump, who spent most of last year as a backchannel between Hamas and Trump's negotiating team ahead of the October ceasefire announcement, told MEE he does not believe there are duelling statements from the board and Trump. "It's not a contradiction. The Board of Peace would collect [the weapons], meaning the technocratic committee that would run Gaza, and they're not going to keep them themselves. They're probably going to hand them to some other party, most likely the Egyptians," he said. "And the Egyptians, once they have those weapons, those weapons are gone. Meaning Hamas is not going to ever see them again." Devil is in the details Thursday's announcement that Hamas had agreed to disarm - something that was already in Trump's 20-point plan from last year - remains more of a roadmap than a step-by-step implementation phase. Hamas said on Friday that any agreement for "complete disarmament" of Palestinian factions in Gaza depends on Washington and Israel honouring commitments made under the 10 October ceasefire deal. Hamas says it will 'disarm when Israel keeps its word' Read More » Israeli drone strikes were still taking place on Friday across Gaza, killing at least two people. Ghazi Hamad, a Hamas representative, told Reuters on Friday that the group would retain its weapons until Israel halted its attacks, allowed more aid and goods into Gaza, and withdrew its forces. Asked what assurances Israel had given to adhere to its own end of the bargain, Trump said on Friday that he has "an understanding with Israel" and that "Israel is very happy about it". "Israel helped us, and they've been very good." Michael Koplow, the chief policy officer for the Israeli Policy Forum think tank, said on X that he believes "Israeli strategy with Trump has been [to] say yes, count on the other side saying no, and assign the blame when nothing moves forward onto the Palestinian side." Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, however, said the government hasn't agreed to anything at all. "The draft agreement published by the 'Peace Council' is not acceptable to Israel," he wrote in Hebrew. "The targeted killings in Gaza must continue, encouraging emigration must happen, Israel must win," he added. With Israeli elections less than two months away, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been keen on not appearing to compromise on any issue relating to Palestinians. Bahbah told MEE that Trump must personally keep "his foot on the pedal" and "strong-arm" Israel to bring this agreement to fruition. 'Israel is going to find one excuse after the other' - Bishara Bahbah, Arab Americans for Trump "We have, quite frankly, a secretary of state who is so pro-Israel and anti-Palestinian that he is doing anything within his power, such as not allowing Palestinians to use their passports to come into the United States, or giving them visas," Bahbah said of Marco Rubio. "So unless the president himself is convinced... into making this a priority, Israel is going to find one excuse after the other." Ziv questioned to what end Trump would see his role vis-a-vis Palestinians and statehood, a core demand and expectation from almost all the signatories to the Board of Peace, and particularly Arab, Muslim, and European stakeholders. "What is the vision that the administration has? They're not really using the two-state discourse that has been used for 25 years since Bill Clinton," he said. "How are they going to square the circle here? Netanyahu is not going to agree... to a Palestinian state. That's not happening." MEE previously reported that the US president may be willing to play the waiting game and see if Netanyahu is ousted in October. World reacts While it remains unclear to what degree Hamas will disarm if the group still perceives a persistent Israeli military threat, the group's heavy weapons such as mortars and rocket launchers are set to go first, followed by its Kalashnikov rifles. 'What is the vision that the administration has? They’re not really using the two-state discourse that has been used for 25 years since Bill Clinton' - Guy Ziv, American University "Hamas has committed not to develop any weapons, not to smuggle any weapons, not to display any military signs in Gaza of any sort, and I think that hasn't been easy for them to come to that conclusion, just because the Israelis have been violating the ceasefire agreement on a daily basis, and they have been targeting their leaders in Gaza," Bahbah told MEE. As of Thursday, the Gaza health ministry has identified at least 73,341 Palestinians killed in Gaza since the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on 7 October 2023. More than 1,200 of them were killed by Israeli sniper fire or air strikes after the 10 October ceasefire was announced by Trump. Another 174,086 Palestinians in total have been wounded. Saudi Arabia, with which Netanyahu is eager for a normalisation agreement that was largely scuttled by the 7 October attacks, described the Board of Peace announcement as "historic" on Friday. "The Kingdom commends President Trump’s leadership and steadfast commitment, which have been instrumental in achieving this significant milestone," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "The Kingdom also emphasizes the importance of the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, the deployment of the International Stabilization Force, and the continued, unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance and reconstruction support to the Palestinian people." Kaja Kallas, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, called the developments "constructive". "A lot needs to fall in place for this to work. Success depends on the full commitment of all parties. Verifying Hamas’ compliance will be a significant challenge. Israel would need to eventually withdraw from Gaza," she wrote on X. Full text: 15-point draft peace plan between Hamas and Israel in Gaza Read More » "The EU is Gaza’s biggest humanitarian donor. In July, the EU pledged €900 million in aid projects to help Gaza recover from the war." Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is currently involved in mediating talks between the US and Iran, said on X that he "welcomes" the news of disarmament along with Israeli withdrawal. "The mediating countries including the United States of America, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkiye, deserve special appreciation for their efforts in achieving this progress. Under President Trump's courageous leadership, this represents a significant achievement for the Board of Peace," Sharif wrote. "Pakistan also hopes that these efforts will lead to the realization of the right to self-determination of the people of Palestine". Canada - which was disinvited from the Board of Peace by Trump when it criticised the membership structure - called the disarmament announcement "an important step". "As one of the largest donors to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, Canada stands ready to contribute to this effort," Prime Minister Mark Carney said on X. "We remain committed to a just and lasting resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, based on a negotiated two-state solution in which Israeli and Palestinian people can live in peace, security and dignity." Israel's genocide in Gaza Washington News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

military · geopolitical

US says Strait of Hormuz ‘remains open’ The US military says the Iranian government’s claim that the Strait of Hormuz is closed is “false”. “The Strait of Hormuz remains open for commercial vessel transit. Iran does not control it. Thousands of ships have sailed through the international waterway over the past four months,” the US military’s Central Command said in a post on X. Earlier, Iran said it had stopped two vessels seeking to exit the Strait of Hormuz and added that four other tankers were turned back after its forces intervened. 🚫 CLAIM: Once again, the Iranian government claims it has closed the Strait of Hormuz. This is FALSE. ✅ FACT: The Strait of Hormuz remains open for commercial vessel transit. Iran does not control it. Thousands of ships have sailed through the international waterway over the… pic.twitter.com/sdDJ08MLHo — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 31, 2026

military · geopolitical

Israeli military cracks down on West Bank village as settlers march in Israeli forces shot and wounded at least one Palestinian, arrested at least three, and closed entrances to the village of Tal in the occupied West Bank on Friday as more than 100 Israeli settlers marched towards the village, residents said. A settler attack last weekend had left four Palestinians and two Israelis dead, an incident that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government characterised as terrorism - although video later emerged showing armed settlers shoving Palestinians. The Palestinian villagers say they were defending themselves against settler attacks that aim to drive them off the land, the latest in a three-year surge of such violence in the West Bank. Since last Friday, the Israeli military has carried out near-daily raids and arrests in Tal, which is near Nablus in the northern West Bank - where most countries and UN bodies consider Israeli settlements illegal.

military · geopolitical

Hamas says it will 'disarm when Israel keeps its word' An unpublished Gaza disarmament agreement obtained by Middle East Eye would place Palestinian weapons under the control of a transitional Palestinian authority, rather than surrendering them to Israel or an international force. Hamas said on Friday that any agreement on the “complete disarmament” of Palestinian factions in Gaza depends on Washington and Israel honouring commitments made under last year’s ceasefire. The statement followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement that the US-led Board of Peace had secured an agreement to disarm Hamas and every other armed group in Gaza. MEE has obtained a copy of the 15-point agreement Trump alluded to but which Israel has yet to acknowledge publicly. Read more: Hamas says it will 'disarm when Israel keeps its word' Israeli tanks and troops deployed near the boundary with Gaza on 10 June (Jack Guez/AFP)

military · geopolitical

Hamas says it will 'disarm when Israel keeps its word' Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Fri, 07/31/2026 - 15:54 Unpublished agreement bars weapons transfers to Israel and gives Palestinians oversight over the disarmament process Israeli tanks and troops deployed near the boundary with Gaza on 10 June (Jack Guez/AFP) Off An unpublished Gaza disarmament agreement obtained by Middle East Eye would place Palestinian weapons under the control of a transitional Palestinian authority, rather than surrendering them to Israel or an international force. Hamas said on Friday that any agreement on the “complete disarmament” of Palestinian factions in Gaza depends on Washington and Israel honouring commitments made under last year’s ceasefire. The statement followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement that the US-led Board of Peace had secured an agreement to disarm Hamas and every other armed group in Gaza. MEE has obtained a copy of the 15-point agreement Trump alluded to but which Israel has yet to acknowledge publicly. The Israeli daily Haaretz quoted an Israeli “political source” as saying "there will be no Israeli withdrawal from the Yellow Line", which cuts the Gaza Strip in half. Trump presented the move as progress towards implementing his 20-point plan and establishing a new Palestinian administration. “This is a monumental step toward lasting PEACE and SECURITY,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday. A Palestinian street vendor stands at his stall in front of destroyed buildings in Gaza City on 27 July 2026 (Omar Al Qattaa/AFP) He said Israeli forces would withdraw “as disarmament is completed”, while the UN-mandated International Stabilization Force would work with a new Palestinian police force. Hamas official Ghazi Hamad told Reuters on Friday that the group would retain its weapons until Israel halted its attacks, allowed more aid and goods into Gaza, and withdrew its forces in accordance with the ceasefire agreement reached in October last year. So what’s in the agreement? According to the deal, Hamas and other Palestinian factions would not hand Gaza’s weapons to Israel. Instead, it places them under the control of a body called the National Committee. The document seen by MEE explicitly states that they will remain in Palestinian hands. "No weapons will be transferred or surrendered to Israel or any non-Palestinian parties," the text states, and by the end of the disarmament process, "the National Committee alone shall retain, store, or control weapons in Gaza." Islamic Jihad and Hamas fighters in the town of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on 3 December 2025 (AFP) The agreement describes weapons collection as a domestic process: "The National Committee, as the transitional authority in Gaza, shall be the sole authority for registering weapons, issuing and revoking licenses, and enforcing the law" and "all factions, clans, and elements of Palestinian society in Gaza shall cooperate with the National Committee in this process." Coverage of the deal has framed Hamas as laying down its arms under pressure. The text avoids that framing. It presents the weapons inventory as a Palestinian-run process that outsiders will monitor but not conduct, with the factions themselves participating. Whether that arrangement survives implementation remains a separate question. Israel rarely abides by agreements it has made with Palestinian groups and others. Who controls the weapons? Notably, the deal only works if Israel moves first. Hamas has publicly said it will not implement any part of the roadmap unless Israel meets its obligations, including a full, phased withdrawal from the territory it still controls in Gaza. The document builds that condition into every stage, stating that "the transition from one phase to the next will be contingent upon the verified completion of the previous phase's obligations", with an international commission responsible for verification. A Palestinian mother mourns over the body of her child Mahmoud Sahwil, 14, who was killed during an Israeli strike on a police station in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood, as the body lies at the morgue at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on 5 May (Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP) It also explicitly links the weapons inventory process "to a phased Israeli withdrawal from the areas it controls in Gaza". The process will begin only "following the completion of the remaining obligations under the Sharm El-Sheikh Protocol, the entry of the National Committee, and the deployment of the International Stability Force" - three preconditions, none of which have happened. The document gives the parties 14 days to finalise the timetable, "within 14 days, subject to extension by a decision of the International Verification Committee," which comprises the guarantor states, the Peace Council and the International Stabilization Force. Role of the International Stabilization Force Public messaging has presented the International Stabilization Force as the security guarantor of the transition. The text gives it a considerably narrower role: "The International Stabilization Force will not perform any policing duties or tasks related to Palestinian society, nor will it undertake any ceasefire enforcement or training of Palestinian police.” “It will also monitor all parties' compliance, the flow of humanitarian and essential needs into the Gaza Strip, and any non-policing tasks as requested by the National Committee,” it added. A Palestinian child stands on the rubble of a destroyed building near the al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, on 1 July (Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP) Instead, the agreement allows the force to "monitor all parties' compliance, the flow of humanitarian and essential needs into the Gaza Strip, and any non-policing tasks as requested by the National Committee" - a body that has yet to enter Gaza, seven months after its appointment. The agreement leaves internal security entirely under Palestinian control: "The National Committee will be responsible for handling internal security incidents." The role of the police and armed forces One consequential clause states that "The inventory/collection of militia weapons and their storage under the authority of the National Committee shall take place according to an agreed-upon timeline. Personnel from these militias shall not be absorbed into the security apparatuses or police.” Post-conflict disarmament processes elsewhere have often folded armed factions into formal security structures to manage demobilised fighters. Full text: 15-point draft peace plan between Hamas and Israel in Gaza Read More » This roadmap rules out that option entirely, leaving open the question of what will happen to the fighters after the committee has logged their weapons. The document takes a more forgiving approach towards existing police personnel, saying that those "who do not meet the required vetting standards will be offered alternative civil roles consistent with their previous expertise or will be retired in accordance with Palestinian law" and "none of these individuals will be deprived of their financial entitlements". No equivalent guarantee exists for militia fighters, only a vaguer promise elsewhere in the text of "reintegration and social support". No budget to rebuild Gaza The governance section contains a firm financial ceiling that has attracted little attention. The agreement tasks the National Committee with assessing "legitimate obligations towards suppliers, contractors, and other parties and address them, not exceeding a total of $400 million", with these measures "implemented gradually over a period of three years, in accordance with priorities determined by the National Committee". The document defers anything beyond that ceiling: "any unresolved financial rights, liabilities, or claims shall be addressed in the context of a broader national process later." It is a strikingly modest sum for an administration expected to oversee reconstruction and a reminder of how threadbare Gaza’s institutional finances remain before a single dollar of rebuilding money arrives. Israel's genocide in Gaza News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

military · geopolitical

Full text: 15-point draft peace plan between Hamas and Israel in Gaza Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 07/31/2026 - 15:01 The Palestinian movement says it will relinquish its weapons to allow for a technocratic administration to run Gaza Hamas led the attacks on southern Israel on 7 October 2023 (File/Reuters) Off Hamas has formally agreed to a detailed framework for implementing the next phases of the Gaza ceasefire, which was drafted with US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace. The agreement forms part of the latest attempt to end Israel's campaign of killing in the besieged Palestinian territory. In a statement on X, the Board of Peace wrote: "The agreement concludes months of intensive, good faith negotiations to advance President Donald J. Trump's vision for establishing new governance, security, humanitarian relief, reconstruction, and economic recovery in Gaza as set out in the Comprehensive Peace Plan and U.N. Security Council Resolution 2803." The statement described the decision as a "historic breakthrough", adding that Hamas would disarm before the Israeli army withdrew from Gaza. Israel has killed more than 73,000 people during its genocide so far, with thousands more missing and presumed dead. It has reduced the enclave, home to nearly 2 million people, to rubble - with around 90 percent of the population displaced and most living in crowded tents without sanitation. Middle East Eye has obtained a draft of the agreement that Hamas agreed to and is publishing an English translation of the Arabic here in full. A comprehensive strategy for the full implementation of President Trump's peace plan for Gaza, 30th July Principles 1. All parties reaffirm their commitment to President Trump's comprehensive plan to achieve peace in Gaza, which, along with UN Security Council Resolution 2803 (2025), constitutes the internationally agreed-upon framework that shall guide the implementation of this process. Through this process, the parties aim to end the cycle of destruction, secure the full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, restore normal life, enable Palestinian governance, advance reconstruction, security, recovery and economic development, rehabilitation of affected sectors, and facilitate the launch of a credible political path that achieves self-determination and the establishment of a Palestinian state. 2. Israel will complete the implementation of all remaining obligations under the Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum in full and without delay, specifically the cessation of military operations as detailed in Annex (1). Hamas and the Palestinian factions will likewise complete the cessation of all military operations in accordance with the Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum and the peace plan. In parallel, the timeline and implementation mechanisms attached to ("Implementation of Phase Two") will be prepared within 14 days, subject to extension by a decision of the International Verification Committee following the approval of the plan by all parties. As soon as the timeline and implementation mechanisms have been finalised, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) will enter the Strip and begin carrying out its duties. ​An International Verification Committee - established by the Board of Peace and composed of representatives of the guarantors, the Board of Peace, and the International Stabilisation Force - will certify that both parties have fulfilled their obligations under the agreed strategy before proceeding to the implementation of Phase Two. 3. The transition from one phase to the next will be contingent upon the verified completion of the previous phase's obligations. This will be certified by the International Verification Committee, which will monitor any violations by either party through enhanced monitoring mechanisms. 4. Hamas and the other factions agree to hand over all civil and security governance functions in Gaza to the National Committee, in alignment with President Trump’s comprehensive peace plan for Gaza. They further affirm that the National Committee will operate with full independence in fulfilling its mandates and that the factions will refrain from interfering in the committee’s affairs during the transitional period, pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 2803 (2025). 5. Upon taking full responsibility in Gaza, the National Committee will ensure the continuity of civil institutions and public services. All public employees will be treated fairly, legally, and with dignity regarding their rights. Those whose services are terminated or who are retired during the transitional period will be granted their entitlements in accordance with Palestinian law. With international support, the National Committee shall conduct a comprehensive audit of the financial and administrative situation in Gaza, while safeguarding and restoring the management of public resources and assets. The National Committee shall assess and address legitimate commitments to suppliers, contractors, and other parties, not exceeding a total of $400m. These measures shall be implemented gradually, within three years, according to priorities determined by the National Committee. Any unresolved rights, liabilities, or financial claims shall be addressed later within the context of a broader national process, in accordance with relevant Palestinian law. Security 6. Gaza will be governed according to the principle of "one authority, one law, one weapon." The National Committee will operate in alignment with Palestinian laws, relevant international standards, and the principles of good governance. 7. Newly trained police personnel will be integrated into existing police structures. All police personnel shall undergo comprehensive vetting. Those who do not meet the required vetting standards will be offered alternative civil roles consistent with their previous expertise or will be retired in accordance with Palestinian law. None of these individuals will be deprived of their financial entitlements, specifically due to their political affiliations. All police weaponry will be transferred to the responsibility and authority of the National Committee upon its entry into Gaza and the commencement of its duties. 8. A process for inventorying and storing heavy weapons, military production sites, weapons depots, and tunnels shall commence following the completion of the remaining obligations under the Sharm el-Sheikh Protocol, the entry of the National Committee, and the deployment of the International Stabilisation Force. This process will be managed and implemented by the National Committee in a gradual, sequential, and time-bound manner, based on an implementation schedule to be finalised within 14 days, subject to extension upon a decision of the International Verification Committee following the approval of all parties to the strategy. This process is linked to a phased Israeli withdrawal from the areas it controls in Gaza and the inventorying of weapons held by armed militias in accordance with section 10 of this plan. The process will be monitored and verified by the International Verification Committee, with support from the International Stabilisation Force. Palestinian factions will participate in this process, and no weapons will be transferred or surrendered to Israel or any non-Palestinian parties. At the conclusion of the process outlined in sections seven to 10 of this plan, the National Committee alone shall retain, store, or control weapons in Gaza. The implementation of this plan, including the issue of weapons and the other provisions of the comprehensive peace plan, shall create the appropriate conditions for a credible path towards achieving Palestinian self-determination and the establishment of a Palestinian state. 9. Personal weapons in Gaza shall be subject to the provisions of relevant Palestinian laws. The National Committee, as the transitional authority in Gaza, shall be the sole authority for registering weapons, issuing and revoking licenses, and enforcing the law, including through reintegration and social support. All factions, clans, and elements of Palestinian society in Gaza shall cooperate with the National Committee in this process. 10. The inventory/collection of militia weapons and their storage under the authority of the National Committee shall take place according to an agreed-upon timeline. Personnel from these militias shall not be absorbed into the security apparatuses or police. The International Verification Committee shall be responsible for verifying the achievement of this. 11. A social peace agreement shall be signed, in line with Palestinian customs and laws, including commitments to an immediate cessation of internal violence, the avoidance of acts of revenge, shows of force, military parades, and armed demonstrations. International Stabilisation Force and Israeli Troop Withdrawal 12. An interim International Stabilisation Force shall be deployed in the Gaza Strip to separate Israeli forces from areas under the control of the National Committee. The International Stabilisation Force will not perform any policing duties or tasks related to Palestinian society, nor will it undertake any ceasefire enforcement or training of Palestinian police. It will also monitor all parties' compliance, the flow of humanitarian and essential needs into the Gaza Strip, and any non-policing tasks as requested by the National Committee. 13. Israeli forces will complete their phased withdrawal from the Gaza Strip according to an agreed-upon timeline, as stipulated in Section Eight of the plan, which includes a commitment not to force anyone to leave the Strip. 14. The National Committee will be responsible for handling internal security incidents. Reconstruction 15. The reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and the provision of necessary resources and funding will be implemented according to a plan and timeline established and overseen by the Peace Council and the National Committee, in accordance with relevant laws and international standards. Israel's genocide in Gaza News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0