Trump Announces Historic Agreement to Disarm Hamas in Gaza Amid Skepticism

US President Donald Trump announced overnight that the Gaza Peace Council has reached a historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in the Gaza Strip. He stated that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) would withdraw from Gaza upon completion of this step, calling it a monumental move toward sustainable peace and security. Trump shared the announcement on his Truth Social platform, emphasizing that a Palestinian government would govern Gaza in cooperation with the Peace Council, ensuring security for Israel and ending Gaza as a base for terror attacks.

Trump described the agreement as a significant milestone in implementing a 20-point plan, to be executed carefully and in stages. Following disarmament, Israeli forces would withdraw, and an international stabilization force (ISF) would work alongside a new Palestinian police force responsible for civilian security. However, Hamas official Razi Hamad stated that no disarmament would occur before Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza. US officials maintained that the disarmament process would begin in the coming weeks, contingent on cooperation with Israel, and described the technocratic government as an alternative to both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas.

The agreement reportedly includes a phased cessation of military activity, transfer of civilian and security responsibilities to a National Committee managing Gaza, oversight of financial and administrative affairs, and supervised disarmament and storage of heavy weapons under international monitoring. Hamas would retain control over stored heavy arms, which would not be handed to Israel. The plan also calls for dismantling tunnels and weapons production sites, a gradual Israeli withdrawal, and disbanding militias without integrating them into security services.

Despite Trump’s announcement, Israeli officials expressed skepticism, clarifying that the agreement discussed in Cairo is between Hamas and mediators, not Israel. Israel demands full disarmament and removal of all weapons from Gaza before any withdrawal, conditions not fully met by the current proposal. Israeli authorities have conveyed their objections through envoy Tony Blair and insist no retreat will occur before Hamas is fully disarmed. The issue of Israeli withdrawal remains a major obstacle, with Hamas demanding guarantees of full Israeli withdrawal before disarmament, while Israel insists disarmament must precede any pullback.

The US acknowledged the complexity and time required for implementation. The National Committee, established in January and led by Ali Shatat, is intended to replace Hamas’s civilian governance but currently operates from Cairo. Hamas recently dissolved its emergency government and expressed willingness to transfer civilian management to this technocratic body, while retaining security control. Israeli officials warn that as long as Hamas keeps its weapons, any civilian government in Gaza would remain under its influence. The announcement follows a period of intense conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with Trump thanking mediators Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey for their roles in the process.