Headed for conflict?
Qatar: Israel Must Withdraw Regardless of Hamas Disarmament
Qatari PM stresses need for Israel to withdraw completely, unrelated to Hamas progress. Earlier today, Zamir called Yellow Line "a new border."
Qatar’s prime minister stated over the weekend that any Gaza truce would be “incomplete” without a full Israeli withdrawal, declaring that this withdrawal should take place even if Hamas does not disarm. The remarks place Doha’s position in direct contrast with the conditions Israel views as essential for moving forward.
Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said Qatar expects Israel to leave Gaza regardless of progress on dismantling Hamas. His statement came during a high-profile public forum and underscored that, from Qatar’s perspective, the withdrawal is not contingent on any verified steps by Hamas toward demilitarization.
The comment was made as Israeli journalist Amit Segal reported growing American pressure to advance to the second phase of the developing Gaza framework, with former US President Donald Trump also saying at the end of last week that phase two was coming soon.
Against this backdrop, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir issued a pointed assessment on Sunday, saying the current Yellow Line constitutes “a new border.” His remarks indicated that Israel does not consider the present deployment to be temporary or an interim stop before additional withdrawal. Segal noted that Zamir’s position reflects a consensus among Israel’s leadership, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and the cabinet.
Segal added that Zamir’s framing suggests a long-term strategic posture. What began as an operational line has effectively become a fixed boundary intended to protect Israeli communities in the Gaza Envelope for years to come.
A central dispute concerns the conditions for phase two of the deal. Hamas announced Sunday that it is not prepared to disarm. The group said it would hand over weapons only after the establishment of a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria and Gaza, and only to that state’s president. Until then, disarmament is not under consideration.
This creates a direct clash of expectations: Qatar asserts that Israel must withdraw even without disarmament, while Israel’s security leadership says the Yellow Line will remain in place until Hamas is dismantled, viewing that as the only viable means of ensuring long-term security.
With these positions now fully public, movement toward phase two remains uncertain.