Gaza’s ‘road map’ is driven by Trump, but reluctant passengers and serious potholes could derail pathway to peace

Nearly a year after signing the initial ceasefire agreement, Israel and Hamas are reluctantly moving forward with the second phase of a U.S.-brokered peace plan for Gaza. On July 30, 2026, President Donald Trump announced that Hamas had agreed to disarm and transfer security and civilian affairs to a technocratic Palestinian administration as part of the plan.

Despite initial success, the ceasefire agreement has failed to improve daily life for Palestinians in Gaza, with Israel continuing to kill its operatives and shift the withdrawal line. The road map, published by Trump's Board of Peace, laid out the steps for achieving disarmament and withdrawal. However, major obstacles remain for implementation.

Israel has killed over 1,100 Palestinians since the ceasefire and expanded its withdrawal to 65% of Gaza territory. Hamas and Israel are yet to agree on a sequence, with Hamas demanding disarmament before Israeli withdrawal and Israel insisting on the opposite. Trust appears to be a significant issue in implementing the plan, as Hamas remains the dominant military force in Gaza and Israel has not ceased its military campaign.

The board of peace and mediators from Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar pressured Hamas to accept the road map, with help from influential businessman Mohammed Dahlan. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces domestic pressure and potential cabinet discord over the plan. While Netanyahu has yet to react fully, he must maintain appearances to appease his right-wing cabinet and upcoming Knesset elections.

The agreement must be finalized within two weeks, but the lack of trust between Hamas and Israel will likely hinder progress in implementing phase 2 of the peace plan for Gaza.