Trump Announces Hamas Disarmament Deal Amid Persistent Doubts

An agreement has been reached regarding the disarmament of Hamas and the transition to civil administration in the Gaza Strip, according to Nikolay Mladenov, high representative for Gaza in the Peace Council established by U.S. President Donald Trump. Mladenov announced the development on social media, emphasizing that the implementation and control of the framework will determine its ultimate success.

Phased Implementation and Israeli Obligations

President Trump stated that the agreement will be implemented in stages, culminating in the withdrawal of the Israeli military from Gaza. According to Trump, the Peace Council reached a historic pact for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in the enclave, which he said will allow for a new Palestinian administration to take root.

However, implementation hinges on whether Israel first fulfills its own commitments under the framework, according to Ghazi Hamad, a representative of Hamas who participated in the negotiations. Speaking to Reuters, Hamad described the pact as a comprehensive framework that exceeds the sole question of disarmament. He stated that the agreement depends on Israel executing the first phase agreed upon last year in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Under those prior terms, Hamad said, Israel is obligated to halt attacks in the Gaza Strip, withdraw its forces to positions held in October, and increase the flow of commercial goods and humanitarian aid into the enclave. Only after those steps occur will Hamas agree to hand over its weapons to the newly formed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, a body of technocrats established to manage the territory during the transition to civil rule. “We insisted to the intermediaries that Israel must respect the agreement,” Hamad noted.

Conflicting Positions and Ongoing Tensions

Disagreements persist over the sequencing of these steps. An Israeli official stated that Israel will not agree to withdraw behind the designated Yellow Line until Hamas is disarmed and the Gaza Strip is entirely demilitarized.

On the ground, tensions remain high. Medical personnel reported that several Palestinians were wounded in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip just hours after Trump announced the agreement. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), an ally of Hamas, rejected reports that a definitive agreement had been reached regarding its own disarmament.

A member of the PIJ political bureau told DPA that the claims are inaccurate and that the circulating document is merely a draft to which the group has raised objections. The official emphasized that the current project lacks guarantees obligating Israel to fulfill its side of the arrangement, maintaining that any valid agreement must bind both parties equally. Fighters belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad participated in the October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel and held hostages taken during the raid.

Despite these objections, several sources close to the talks in Cairo confirmed that Hamas has agreed via intermediaries to the final text of the proposed implementation schedule, accepting the demilitarization of the strip as part of the broader transition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Gaza disarmament agreement involve?

The framework involves the phased disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in the Gaza Strip, paired with the withdrawal of Israeli forces and a transition to civilian governance under a newly formed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, according to statements from U.S. and regional officials.

What conditions has Hamas set for surrendering weapons?

According to Hamas representative Ghazi Hamad, the group insists that Israel must first halt military attacks, withdraw its forces to October positions, and increase humanitarian and commercial aid deliveries before weapons are handed over to the civilian administration committee.

Do all Palestinian factions support the pact?

No. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad has rejected reports of a finalized agreement, stating that the current proposal is only a draft that lacks sufficient guarantees regarding Israeli compliance.