Trump announces Gaza disarmament deal with Hamas, but Israel raises objections

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a “historic” agreement aimed at the phased disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, but uncertainty remains over whether the proposal will be accepted by Israel and fully implemented by the Palestinian group.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said negotiations in Cairo involving mediators and Hamas representatives had resulted in an agreement under which Hamas would disarm in stages.

“Today, the Board of Peace reached a historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza,” Trump said, describing the development as a major step toward long-term peace and security.

He said the plan would allow a new Palestinian administration to govern Gaza in coordination with the Board of Peace while addressing Israel’s security concerns by preventing the territory from being used for future attacks.

However, Hamas and US officials indicated that significant issues remain unresolved.

A Hamas official described the document as a draft rather than a final agreement, saying negotiations were still continuing. Sources close to the group said the proposal would place heavy weapons under the supervision of a Palestinian body instead of requiring an immediate handover.

Ghazi Hamad, a member of the Hamas negotiating team, said Hamas would not take steps toward disarmament before Israel withdraws from Gaza.

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“We will not take any action regarding disarmament prior to Israel’s withdrawal from the Strip,” he said.

US officials acknowledged that Israel remained doubtful about whether Hamas would fully disarm under the proposed framework.

A US official said Israel was “very skeptical” that Hamas would give up its weapons but expressed confidence that the group would comply with the agreement.

Israel has insisted that Hamas must completely disarm, remove all weapons from Gaza and ensure the territory is fully demilitarised before any long-term political process moves forward.

An Israeli official said a previous version of the proposal did not meet Israel’s demands and that objections had been conveyed.

The proposed roadmap includes the destruction of tunnels, weapons stockpiles and arms manufacturing facilities, with officials saying the goal is to eliminate militant infrastructure in Gaza.

The agreement also outlines increased humanitarian aid, governance through a civilian Palestinian administration, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the deployment of an international force to help maintain security.

Officials involved in the negotiations said the timeline for implementation remains unclear. A Board of Peace official estimated the process could take between 200 and 320 days, while a US official downplayed the timeframe.

Meanwhile, fighting has continued despite diplomatic efforts. Palestinian health officials said Israeli strikes on Thursday killed at least six Palestinians in Gaza, including two children.

The Israeli military said it had targeted Hamas militants in the enclave.

The proposed agreement comes as Hamas, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey continue discussions over the next phase of Trump’s Gaza plan, which aims to rebuild the war-torn territory and establish a temporary governance structure.

Trump’s Board of Peace has been tasked with overseeing the reconstruction process and supporting a future Palestinian administration in Gaza.

Despite the announcement, major challenges remain, including the question of weapons control, Israel’s military presence in Gaza and the composition of any international security force.

The ceasefire situation remains fragile, with Gaza health officials reporting continued casualties since the truce began, while Israeli authorities have also reported deaths among their forces during the period.