Opinion | A good visit to Israel, tainted by two disturbing incidents at the airport

In Israel on 4 August 2026, Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli army would not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is completely disarmed. He also said Israel had not agreed to the Board of Peace’s plan to disarm Hamas, and the Board of Peace said Israel’s withdrawal would follow Hamas’s disarmament.

Qatar, Egypt and Turkey condemned Israeli strikes in Gaza and warned the ceasefire was at risk, and Qatar said Israel was delaying implementation of the Gaza peace plan. France 24 reported that Trump’s announced breakthrough with Hamas was fueling discord with Israel.