President Donald Trump announced a historic agreement involving the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, alongside a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory. The announcement follows months of negotiations in Cairo mediated by the Board of Peace, an international body established by Trump last year. According to Cbsnews, Trump described the arrangement on Truth Social as a HISTORIC agreement for the COMPLETE DISARMAMENT of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza,
and a monumental step toward lasting PEACE and SECURITY.
Trump Announces Disarmament and Withdrawal Agreement
The newly agreed roadmap turns a previous 20-point peace proposal into a structured framework. Under the terms communicated by U.S. and Board of Peace officials, Israeli forces would withdraw from parts of Gaza as disarmament is completed, while an International Stabilization Force and a new Palestinian police force would assume responsibility for security. The deal also envisions Gaza being governed by a new technocratic Palestinian government working alongside the Board of Peace.
Phased Implementation and Timelines
While the exact timetable for complete disarmament remains unfinalized, U.S. and Board of Peace officials outlined a projected sequence during a briefing with reporters. The initial steps involve the Gaza police force turning over weapons to the Board of Peace-backed technocratic administration within the next two weeks. However, officials clarified that this initial phase does not include the vast majority of Hamas militants, heavy weaponry, or tunnel infrastructure.
According to Euronews, the surrender of heavy munitions and the decommissioning of Hamas tunnels and other infrastructure are projected to take place in a subsequent phase lasting between 200 and 350 days. Hamas negotiators stipulated that disarmament must occur concurrently with Israeli withdrawal. Ghazi Hamad, a member of the Hamas negotiating team, told Theguardian, We will not take any action regarding disarmament prior to Israel’s withdrawal from the strip,
adding that the group would condition its implementation on Israel fulfilling its own obligations.
Israeli Response and Political Divisions
The Israeli government has not yet issued an official response to the announcement, and skepticism remains high among Israeli officials regarding the enforcement of the pact. An Israeli official told Reuters that Israel demands the complete demilitarization of the strip as a precondition for any process, stating the current plan did not provide a satisfactory response. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir publicly dismissed the agreement on Telegram, writing that the assassinations in Gaza must continue, the encouragement of immigration must happen, Israel must win.
Hours after Trump’s announcement, Israel carried out an airstrike on Gaza that wounded several people. U.S. officials acknowledged that the proposal is built on an assumption of zero trust between Israel and Hamas, noting that every aspect of the roadmap is conditional because neither side expects the other to adhere to its commitments. Meanwhile, an American official affirmed that Trump would be very, very disappointed
if Israel failed to abide by the pact.
