The United States is pressuring Israel to begin a two-week ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Israel’s public broadcaster reported on Friday, amid opposition from several Israeli government ministers to the proposal.
According to political sources cited by the broadcaster, Washington is pushing Israel to implement a two-week ceasefire in Gaza in order to begin carrying out a plan for the disarmament of Hamas, as described by the sources.
The development comes as the Israeli government continues to insist that Hamas must be completely disarmed before any Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. However, the roadmap announced by the Peace Council on July 31 and accepted by Hamas calls for Israeli withdrawal and disarmament to take place gradually and in parallel.
The sources said several ministers in Israel’s Security Cabinet opposed halting military operations in Gaza during a meeting on Thursday, arguing that Israel should continue its military campaign.
They added that Israeli Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs informed ministers that Israel has not yet signed the agreement allowing a multinational force to enter the Gaza Strip.
The Security Cabinet is expected to meet again on Sunday to continue discussions on the issue.
The developments reflect continuing divisions within the Israeli government over the roadmap proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s Peace Council.
On Monday, far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Settlement Minister Orit Strock sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing the agreement as “dangerous for Israel.” They argued that its provisions conflict with the objective of fully disarming Hamas and with what they described as previous U.S. commitments to Israel.
The two ministers also objected to the proposed role of the international force in Gaza, arguing that the plan would give it authority to monitor Israeli forces and separate them from Hamas, potentially restricting Israeli military operations.
According to the Israeli broadcaster, the roadmap calls for a gradual Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza according to an agreed timetable, in parallel with disarmament arrangements. Trump’s 20-point plan, which Israel has accepted, also provides for a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Strip.
The plan calls for an end to Israeli military operations, the entry of a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza and an international stabilization force, and the beginning of a gradual process to dismantle and store heavy weapons and remove tunnels. These measures would take place alongside a phased Israeli withdrawal, with the weapons placed under the responsibility of the Palestinian committee rather than handed over to Israel or any non-Palestinian party.
Hamas has linked progress toward the second phase of the ceasefire agreement to Israel halting what it describes as killings and attacks and implementing all provisions of the first phase. Meanwhile, the Gaza Peace Council published a roadmap for completing the implementation of the agreement to end the war, including the establishment of an independent national committee to administer Gaza and an international mechanism to oversee implementation.
According to the figures cited by the report, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which began on October 8, 2023, has resulted in more than 73,000 Palestinians killed and 174,000 injured, most of them women and children, in addition to extensive destruction of infrastructure.
Despite a phased ceasefire agreement reached on October 10, 2025, the report said Israeli violations continued, with daily bombardments resulting in 1,255 Palestinians killed and 4,125 injured, most of them women and children.
A comprehensive document aimed at ending the war in Gaza was signed in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on October 14, 2025, following two years of war.
The document calls for continued efforts toward a comprehensive vision of peace, security, and shared prosperity in the region based on mutual respect and a shared future.
U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a 20-point plan to end the Gaza war on September 29, 2025. The plan calls for a transitional governing framework for the Strip and stipulates that Israel would neither occupy nor annex Gaza.
Under the proposal, once an international stabilization force assumes control and establishes security, Israeli forces would withdraw according to criteria and a timetable linked to the disarmament process, to be agreed upon by the Israeli military, the international stabilization force, guarantors, and the United States.
The plan also states that once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful coexistence and surrender their weapons would be granted amnesty, while those wishing to leave Gaza would be provided with safe passage to receiving countries.
