President Trump announced Thursday evening a deal for Hamas to disarm in a series of carefully structured phases, a move that, if successful, would remove one of the major obstacles to a broader peace agreement in Gaza. The announcement, made via Truth Social, outlined a process where disarmament would pave the way for Israeli withdrawal and the establishment of a new Palestinian government.
"This agreement is a critical step towards Gaza finally being governed by a new Palestinian government that will work closely with the Board of Peace to help the Palestinian people," Trump wrote. "At the same time, Israel will have the security it deserves, with Gaza no longer used as a base for terror attacks."
The president added that the plan would be executed in stages, with an International Stabilization Force and a new Palestinian police force taking over security responsibilities as Israeli forces withdraw. However, Trump did not provide specific details on the phases in his post.
A U.S. official acknowledged that Israel remains skeptical about Hamas's commitment to disarm. "They're very skeptical that Hamas will disarm. But again, they're not really being asked to do much in the process because this isn't really a trust deal. This is really a conditions-based deal," the official said, emphasizing that all parties must meet their obligations.
Earlier Thursday, Amit Segal, chief political analyst for Israel's N12News, outlined some terms, including Hamas surrendering all weapons within weeks to depots guarded by multinational forces, and ending all military activity and recruitment. Israel would not withdraw its military behind the "yellow line"—the demarcation dividing Gaza since a peace framework was announced in October—until disarmament is complete.
Neither Israel nor Hamas officially commented on Trump's announcement as of Thursday evening. The Jerusalem Post reported that a 15-point document under discussion did not adequately address Israeli demands for full demilitarization of the Gaza Strip. Israel's concerns were conveyed to former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, a mediator on the Board of Peace overseeing Gaza's reconstruction.
U.S. and Board of Peace officials said the first step is establishing a complete monopoly of weapons to prevent Hamas from disrupting the peace process. The initial tranche would include police firearms, followed by heavy weapons, weapons depots, and tunnels. "That will obviously be a very technical process in which we will rely heavily on the expertise and support of the International Stabilization Force," said one official.
The final challenge involves collecting personal weapons through enforcing existing Palestinian legislation. Officials also noted the need to demilitarize militias and clans in Gaza. Once this phase is verified by both sides, Hamas would transfer civilian and security functions to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, formed by the Board of Peace.
After Israel confirms no internal threat remains, it will begin a phased military withdrawal according to a finalized timetable. The ultimate goal, officials said, is the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. This development comes amid broader tensions, including shifts in U.S. counterterror priorities and ongoing debates over nomination strategies in Washington.
