Hamas Declares Readiness for Gaza Roadmap, Blames Israel for Delays

Hamas announced on Wednesday its full readiness to implement a "roadmap" for Gaza agreed upon with the "Peace Council," a body led by U.S. President Donald Trump. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem stated the group has taken all necessary steps for implementation, accusing the Israeli government of obstructing the ceasefire agreement and its associated roadmap. Qassem attributed the delays to Israel's refusal to adhere to the agreement, its escalation of aggression against Gaza's residents, and the "Peace Council" and its representative, Nikolay Mladenov, failing to compel Israel to comply.

Hamas urged relevant parties, particularly the U.S. administration and the "Peace Council," to take practical measures to allow a technocratic committee to enter Gaza and begin its work, alongside the deployment of international forces as stipulated in the ceasefire and roadmap. This comes a day after the "Peace Council" unveiled a $2.45 billion, six-month recovery plan for Gaza during a New York meeting. Mladenov, the council's senior representative for Gaza, presented the plan and acknowledged the difficulty of ongoing talks with Israel due to upcoming elections and political sensitivities, noting slow but steady progress.

The "Peace Council" plan includes 66 projects focused on recovery, such as temporary housing, debris removal, and infrastructure rehabilitation, including public transport. These projects are part of a broader roadmap involving political and security arrangements, including the disarmament of Gaza and Israeli withdrawal, linking recovery projects to progress on other plan components. A U.S.-mediated ceasefire in October 2025 established a framework for the post-conflict phase, but Israel has since conducted raids and restricted reconstruction materials, according to the article.

The plan estimates damages in Gaza at approximately $35.2 billion, with reconstruction needs at around $71.4 billion. Hamas reiterated its readiness to fulfill its part of the plan, while calling on the U.S. and the "Peace Council" to facilitate the entry of the technocratic committee and international forces as agreed.