Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday that Israel has rejected the 15-point Gaza roadmap proposed by the United States, stating that the Israeli army will not withdraw from the Palestinian territory until Hamas is fully disarmed. The announcement came as attacks in Gaza saw a sharp decrease this week.

Hamas, on the same day, reaffirmed its commitment to the roadmap, stipulating conditions including guarantees on a ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal, aid, and reconstruction. The Board of Peace envoy, Nickolay Mladenov, indicated in an interview that any Israeli troop pullback would be gradual, starting from areas cleared of weapons, with international forces assuming control of vacated zones. He also stated that disarmament would eventually encompass all armed factions in Gaza, not solely Hamas.

Despite the public rejection, discernible shifts on the ground have been reported. Gaza's Health Ministry data shows a significant drop in reported Palestinian fatalities, from 47 in the week of July 27 to August 3, to eight in the subsequent week ending August 10. Concurrently, Israeli Army Radio reported that Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz had secretly authorized rehabilitation work for basic infrastructure in eastern Rafah. Palestinian laborers are expected to participate after screening by Israel's security agency, Shin Bet.

This infrastructure project is reportedly linked to the "Green Rafah" temporary housing initiative. However, experts express concern that this construction may serve to further entrench Israel's military presence in Gaza and contribute to its fragmentation, rather than providing genuine humanitarian relief. Reports indicate that Israel has withheld necessary caravans for residents until after its October election, despite a "ceasefire" agreement originally set for October 2025.

Internal pressures appear to be influencing Netanyahu's stance. He is reportedly facing competing demands from his US allies to advance the roadmap's second phase and from his far-right political base, which advocates for seizing or colonizing more of Gaza as elections approach.

Despite the de-escalation in attacks, isolated incidents of violence persist. On Saturday, Israeli forces fatally shot a Palestinian man in Deir el-Balah. At least five other Palestinians were injured in the territory, including in an Israeli tank strike on tents in Khan Younis and from gunfire in al-Mawasi and Gaza City.

Media outlets, citing US officials, have suggested that the Israeli army has not received orders to halt preparations for the agreement's second phase. Plans for the first base for the International Stabilization Force are reportedly slated for construction in Rafah by the end of August.

Since the "ceasefire" agreement in October, at least 1,258 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to available data. The situation remains complex, with public declarations contrasting with behind-the-scenes developments and ongoing security concerns.