Gaza Ceasefire Phase 2 Is Paralyzed: Hamas Won't Disarm, Israel Controls 60% of the Territory

# Gaza Ceasefire Phase 2 Is Paralyzed: Hamas Won't Disarm, Israel Controls 60% of the Territory

> **Quick answer:** Gaza's ceasefire phase 2 is effectively frozen. Hamas has declared disarmament "not negotiable," while Netanyahu confirmed Israel now controls 60% of Gaza — exceeding the ceasefire's agreed boundaries. Over 850 Palestinians have been killed since the October 2025 truce began. Senior officials warn the stalemate risks cementing a permanent division of the territory, making reconstruction and the broader 50-point peace plan impossible.

Seven months into the Gaza ceasefire, the agreement that was supposed to end the war is stuck at a wall neither side will move. Gaza ceasefire phase 2 collapse now looks less like a hypothetical and more like a slow-motion outcome — with Hamas refusing disarmament, Israeli forces expanding deeper into the Strip, and diplomats warning the window for a durable peace is closing.

## What Phase 2 Actually Requires — And Why It Broke Down

The October 2025 Gaza ceasefire was structured in phases. Phase 1 delivered the core immediate objectives: a pause in major combat, the return of some Israeli hostages, and the restoration of humanitarian aid corridors. By most accounts, phase 1 delivered relative stability, though well below promised levels.

Phase 2 is categorically different. It requires Hamas to surrender its weapons — full disarmament — withdraw from governance of Gaza, and allow international stabilization forces to enter. In exchange, Israel was expected to withdraw its forces back to a perimeter position and allow reconstruction to begin under the Gaza Board of Peace's 50-point plan.