Hamas announced on Friday that it will not surrender its heavy weaponry until Israeli military forces completely withdraw from the Gaza Strip, directly rebuffing an announcement by US President Donald Trump that a peace board had secured a total disarmament agreement.
Conditions Linked to the Trump 20-Point Plan
In its first official statement following President Trump’s declaration, the Palestinian group stated that any agreement regarding the confiscation of heavy arms remains bound and conditioned upon Israel fulfilling ten separate demands. The statement was released in relation to the 20-point peace plan presented by Trump on September 29, 2025.
Among the core demands listed by Hamas are the complete cessation of all Israeli military attacks in Gaza—where authorities report more than 1,200 fatalities have occurred despite an ongoing ceasefire—and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the territory. Medical sources reported that several Palestinians were injured in an Israeli airstrike hours after Trump’s announcement, adding to a nearly ten-month ceasefire period during which Israeli forces have killed an average of four Palestinians per day, including children.
Additional Requirements and Rejection by Israel
The group’s statement outlines several additional requirements that exceed current positions held by the Israeli government and Benjamin Netanyahu. These include the reconstruction of Gaza, guarantees for the right to self-determination, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, and the protection of citizen rights.
Furthermore, Hamas demands the prompt recovery of the territory, the entry of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), the deployment of international protection forces, and the dissolution of armed bands and militias supported by Israel. “The commitment of the occupation to detener los asesinatos and put an end to its attacks is the fundamental requirement,” the group stated, adding that the implementation of the second phase of the US-led plan is strictly dependent on the occupation fulfilling all provisions of the first phase.
Diverging Stated Mechanics of Disarmament
Detailing the initiative via Truth Social, President Trump asserted that the arrangement would unfold in carefully structured phases. According to Trump, once disarmament is completed, Israeli forces will pull back while an International Stabilization Force and a newly established Palestinian police force take over security.
Trump also maintained that the storage of surrendered weaponry would fall under the oversight of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza without any Israeli participation. Despite these outlines, significant ambiguities remain regarding the concrete terms accepted by each party and the timeline for execution. Over months, the Israeli military has constructed a new sand wall inside Gaza, occupied approximately 70 percent of the territory, and forced additional Palestinian families to displace.
