Lead

Israel has yet to formally approve the US-backed roadmap for implementing the next phase of President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan, as ministers push back against a proposed 14-day preparatory period and demand guarantees that Hamas will genuinely disarm, according to reporting by The Jerusalem Post.

Shin Bet Director David Zini warned ministers that Hamas views the proposed demilitarization process as a strategic opportunity to buy time and constrain Israel rather than a path toward genuinely giving up its military capabilities. Zini told ministers that, from Hamas’s perspective, the roadmap amounted to a “diplomatic October 7,” allowing the terrorist organization to achieve politically what it had failed to achieve militarily.

Coverage Comparison

Two reports from The Jerusalem Post detail the security cabinet’s deliberations. The first, published August 8, 2026, focuses on the absence of formal approval for the roadmap and the cabinet’s concerns about Hamas’s intentions. The second, published August 7, 2026, centers on Zini’s warning that Hamas believes it should have pursued the demilitarization agreement with the Board of Peace in order to “trap Israel.” Both reports cite sources familiar with the security cabinet discussions, but neither provides the full transcript of the meetings.

The reports agree on the core facts: Zini warned that Hamas sees the agreement as a way to constrain Israel’s military operations, ministers oppose the 14-day preparatory period, and there are demands for guarantees of genuine disarmament. The framing differs slightly in emphasis—one highlights the “trap” language, while the other stresses the strategic opportunity for Hamas—but the underlying assessment is consistent.

The Jerusalem Post separately reported that Zini told the security cabinet that Hamas viewed the agreement as a way to “trap Israel” and limit its ability to operate militarily in Gaza in the coming months. According to Zini, Hamas’s strategy is to stall the process while waiting to see what will happen in the next few months and also wait for political developments in Israel. “They are dragging their feet,” he told ministers, according to the sources. “They are waiting for the elections, and then they will see what happens.”

Key Claims

  • No formal approval: Israel has not signed or formally approved the roadmap for the next phase of Trump’s Gaza plan, according to The Jerusalem Post.
  • Cabinet opposition: Ministers oppose the proposed 14-day preparatory period and demand guarantees that Hamas will genuinely disarm, as reported by The Jerusalem Post.
  • Shin Bet assessment: Shin Bet Director David Zini warned ministers that Hamas views the demilitarization process as a strategic opportunity to buy time and constrain Israel, according to The Jerusalem Post.
  • Hamas’s stall tactics: Zini told ministers that Hamas is seeking to drag the process out while waiting for Israel’s October elections, hoping Israel will be prevented from resuming military operations during that period, as reported by The Jerusalem Post.
  • Cabinet minister’s criticism: Cabinet Minister Strock criticized the proposed demilitarization framework, arguing that it falls far short of genuine disarmament, and warned against transferring Hamas’s weapons or security responsibilities to a future Palestinian police force, according to The Jerusalem Post.
  • US-backed plan: The Trump administration and its Board of Peace have promoted a phased process combining Hamas disarmament, the establishment of a Palestinian technocratic administration, deployment of an International Stabilization Force, and further Israeli withdrawals, as reported by The Jerusalem Post.
  • Ugandan troops: Uganda’s parliament voted to authorize the deployment of Ugandan troops to Gaza if required as part of the international force, a claim carried by The Jerusalem Post.

Perspectives

Israeli security cabinet: Ministers, including Cabinet Minister Strock, oppose the 14-day preparatory period and demand guarantees that Hamas will genuinely disarm. Strock warned against transferring Hamas’s weapons or security responsibilities to a future Palestinian police force, arguing the proposed framework falls short of genuine disarmament.

Shin Bet: Director David Zini assessed that Hamas views the demilitarization process as a way to “trap Israel” and constrain its military freedom of action, rather than a genuine path to disarmament. He said Hamas is stalling while waiting for Israel’s October elections.