Pakistan, Aug. 1 -- After nearly 10 months of stop-start negotiations over the second phase of President Donald Trump's Gaza plan, Washington says Hamas has accepted a phased disarmament roadmap. The announcement has altered the diplomatic balance, but not life inside the enclave. Israeli strikes killed six Palestinians on Thursday, while Gaza's residents continue to endure attacks despite the ceasefire declared last October.

Nor is there yet a completed agreement. Israel has not publicly accepted the roadmap, and Hamas describes it as a draft. Mr Trump's claim of "complete disarmament" also runs ahead of the reported terms. Hamas has agreed in principle that heavy weapons would be inventoried and placed under a new Palestinian administr...