Trump Announces Agreement for Hamas to Begin Disarming in the Gaza Strip
President Trump stated on Thursday via a social media post that the Board of Peace—an administration-established organization overseeing a Gaza cease-fire—has secured an agreement for Hamas to begin disarming in the Gaza Strip. The conflict in Gaza began nearly three years ago, following an Oct. 7, 2023, assault led by Hamas that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the taking of about 250 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. A subsequent Israeli military campaign heavily impacted the region, causing over 70,000 fatalities according to Gaza health officials, while recent talks involving Hamas, the Board of Peace, and Israel had remained deadlocked over subsequent steps in the October cease-fire.
Phased Disarmament and Future Governance Plans
According to Mr. Trump, the disarmament process will occur in “structured phases” accompanied by the withdrawal of Israeli forces as disarmament is completed. He highlighted that the agreement serves as a vital step toward establishing a new Palestinian government in Gaza that will collaborate with the Board of Peace to support the Palestinian population, while simultaneously ensuring Israeli security by removing Gaza as a base for terror attacks. In a call with reporters following the presidential post, a senior Trump adviser involved in the negotiations indicated that the disarmament process would unfold over a matter of weeks.
Skepticism and Preconditions for Regional Reconstruction
Board officials addressing reporters repeatedly emphasized that the process will take time, noting that Israeli counterparts remain skeptical regarding whether Hamas will actually relinquish its weapons and its role in Gaza governance. Jonathan Harounoff, who recently stepped down as Israel’s international spokesman at the United Nations, observed that the complete disarmament of Hamas has served as the primary obstacle to reconstruction efforts, noting that the group has broken prior commitments. Harounoff added that Israel maintains that full demilitarization of the Gaza Strip is a non-negotiable precondition for any withdrawal process.
Immediate Reaction and Status of the Plan
As of Thursday, neither Hamas nor Israel had issued an immediate comment regarding the announced agreement, leaving it unclear whether either party had formally signed off on the plan following years of ongoing conflict and a fragile cease-fire.
