US President Donald Trump has announced that an agreement has been reached for the “complete disarmament” of Hamas and a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, though neither party publicly confirmed the deal in the hours following the declaration.
Trump described the agreement in a social media post on Thursday as “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.” He said the plan would be implemented in structured phases, with Israeli troops pulling back as disarmament advances.
The announcement comes nine months after a US-brokered ceasefire was signed, ending the most intense phase of a war that has lasted more than two years. Negotiations had largely stalled over the second phase of that framework, particularly the questions of Hamas surrendering its weapons and the reconstruction of the enclave.
Under Trump’s 20-point plan, the Iran-backed group is called on to hand over its arsenal — including rockets, anti-tank missiles and explosives — and to destroy its extensive tunnel network. The plan also envisions the deployment of an International Stabilization Force working alongside a newly formed Palestinian police force to secure the territory.
“As disarmament is completed, Israeli forces will withdraw, and the International Stabilization Force will work with a new Palestinian police force to take responsibility for Gaza being safe for its residents and its neighbors,” Trump stated.
Significant uncertainty surrounds the announcement. There was no immediate statement from either Hamas or the Israeli government confirming the terms. A Hamas member told Al Jazeera that any implementation on the group’s part would be conditioned on Israel first carrying out its own obligations under the deal.
Hamas has long resisted relinquishing its weapons, which lie at the heart of the group’s identity and founding charter of armed resistance against Israel. The group had insisted on completing the first phase of the ceasefire framework before opening discussions on disarmament.
Earlier this month, Hamas announced it had dissolved its governing administration in Gaza and was preparing to transition authority, a move seen as a step toward the technocratic Palestinian government envisioned in the broader plan.
The deal was said to have been reached through the Board of Peace, the international body Trump established to oversee Gaza’s post-war governance and reconstruction. The panel earlier launched a multibillion-dollar reconstruction drive aimed at rebuilding the battered enclave.
Numerous hurdles remain before any withdrawal can proceed, including long implementation timelines, the composition of the international force, and the sequencing of Israeli pullbacks against Hamas concessions. The absence of confirmation from the two principal parties leaves the durability of the announcement in question.
Whether the framework advances will depend on both sides accepting the phased structure in the coming weeks, a process that has repeatedly faltered since the original ceasefire took effect.