How Hamas Saved the Israeli Right

On 13 May 2026, Gaza remained at the centre of talks and fighting between Israel and Hamas. The Board of Peace envoy Mladenov said the ceasefire hinges on Hamas' disarmament, and said Hamas can survive politically by giving up weapons and armed conflict. He also said the Board of Peace does not ask Hamas to "disappear", and that Hamas is tightening its grip and blocking reconstruction in Gaza.

Reuters wrote that Israel stepped up attacks on Gaza since the Iran truce, with the military saying Hamas is rearming. The Jerusalem Post said the IDF is preparing a plan to return to fighting in Gaza, depending on an Iran ceasefire deal. In the West Bank, the UN said Israel has killed 70 Palestinian children since early 2025, and the Times of Israel wrote that IDF officers were said to have told the prime minister that "Jewish terror" accounts for up to 80% of West Bank incidents. A report found that Hamas systematically used sexual violence in the 7 October attacks.