Hamas has signaled it remains committed to moving forward with the second phase of a US-brokered Gaza peace plan, even as Israeli leaders dispute key terms of the agreement. The militant group's latest statement, delivered to mediators and President Donald Trump's Board of Peace, calls on Washington to pressure Israel into accepting the next stage. Main Developments On Saturday, a Hamas official confirmed to AFP that the group, along with other factions, has told mediators they are ready to begin implementing the agreement and transition to its second phase—provided Israel approves and starts complying with the terms. The official, speaking anonymously, urged the US administration to compel Israel to abide by the deal. The second phase involves Hamas handing over weapons to a nascent Palestinian governing committee in the war-ravaged territory. This concession was hailed by Trump last week as a breakthrough, with the Board of Peace stating that Israel would reciprocate with a phased withdrawal from much of Gaza. Read also: UAE accuses Iran of tanker strike as Hormuz talks near deal Background Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing a tough reelection fight in October and opposition from his right-wing base, said on Tuesday that Israel had not agreed to the "draft" presented by the Board of Peace. The tension escalated after Netanyahu met Monday with Nickolay Mladenov, the Board's high representative for Gaza, who later backtracked, saying Israel would withdraw only after full disarmament by Hamas. The current ceasefire, backed by Trump, was reached in October last year. Since then, Israeli operations in Gaza have killed 1,257 Palestinians, according to the territory's health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations. The Israeli army has reported five deaths in its ranks during the same period. Why It Matters The standoff over the second phase could derail the fragile peace process, which is seen as a key foreign policy win for Trump. Hamas's readiness to disarm, if carried out, would mark a significant shift in the conflict. However, Israel's insistence on full disarmament before any withdrawal threatens to stall the agreement, prolonging the violence that has already claimed thousands of lives. Recent days have seen a decrease in Israeli operations, but sporadic incidents continue—on Saturday, the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis reported three people injured by Israeli army gunfire. What's Next Attention now turns to whether the US administration will apply pressure on Israel to accept the second phase. The Board of Peace's position on the sequencing of disarmament and withdrawal remains a sticking point. With Netanyahu's reelection campaign looming, his political calculus could influence his willingness to compromise. The coming weeks will reveal whether Hamas's readiness translates into concrete progress or further deadlock.