Hamas has agreed in principle to a phased disarmament of its weapons in Gaza under a roadmap brokered by Donald Trump's newly created Board of Peace, with the US president hailing the deal as a "historic" milestone. Trump announced the agreement on his Truth Social platform, saying it was "a critical step towards Gaza finally being governed by a new Palestinian government" and that Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza "as disarmament is completed." The Board of Peace described the agreement as a "historic achievement" — the first time Hamas has formally committed to a plan to surrender all of its weapons.
The four-page roadmap, obtained by multiple news organisations, lays out a carefully sequenced process: smaller armed groups in Gaza would disarm first, before Hamas begins dismantling what US officials described as its state-like military infrastructure, including tunnel networks, weapons depots and production facilities — a process Washington acknowledged would take considerably longer. A Board of Peace official estimated the overall timeline at between 200 and 320 days, though US officials played down that figure. Under the agreement, heavy weapons would be inventoried and stored under the control of a newly formed Palestinian National Committee — not transferred to Israel or any non-Palestinian party — while an International Verification Commission monitors compliance, supported by a planned International Stabilisation Force. A new Palestinian police force would eventually take responsibility for security in the territory. The plan was deliberately built on what US officials called a "zero trust, conditions-based" framework, with neither side advancing to the next phase until the other has fulfilled its commitments. Trump thanked mediators Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, and said Cairo would soon host a further meeting of truce mediators to advance implementation.
Hamas negotiating team member Ghazi Hamad made clear, however, that the movement would not take any steps on disarmament before Israel withdrew from Gaza. "The issue of weapons is linked to Israeli withdrawal, the entry of the National Committee, and reconstruction," he said, adding that the negotiations had been "difficult and tough." A Hamas source described the agreement as a draft, and the movement signalled it expected mediators and the Board of Peace to guarantee Israeli compliance with the deal's terms. The draft also links the weapons arrangements to progress toward Palestinian self-determination and statehood.
Israel's position remains a significant obstacle. Before Trump's announcement, an unnamed Israeli official said the 15-point document "does not provide a satisfactory response" to Israel's demands for the complete removal of weapons from Gaza and full demilitarisation as a precondition for any process. The Israeli embassy in Washington did not immediately comment. A US official acknowledged that Israel was "very sceptical" that Hamas would actually disarm, but expressed confidence that Israel would adhere to the 20-point plan it had previously accepted, warning that Trump would be "very, very disappointed" if it did not. The Board of Peace was set up by Trump to oversee an end to the war in Gaza and supervise the territory's reconstruction; its proposed charter does not mention Gaza specifically and appears designed to take on functions previously held by the United Nations.
The announcement comes against a backdrop of ongoing violence. Since a ceasefire nominally took effect last October, more than 1,168 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, while four Israeli soldiers have been killed in Palestinian attacks. Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after the Hamas-led attack of 7 October 2023, in which around 1,200 people in Israel were killed and 251 taken hostage. More than 73,000 people have since been killed in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations. Whether the disarmament agreement can be translated into concrete action on the ground will depend heavily on Israel's ultimate decision to participate — a question that, for now, remains unanswered.