Key Takeaways
- US President Donald Trump claims a historic agreement for complete disarmament of Hamas in Gaza.
- Hamas officials describe the deal as a draft, with conditions on weapon storage and control.
- Israel remains skeptical about Hamas' commitment to disarmament.
US President Donald Trump announced a phased disarmament agreement between Hamas and mediators during talks in Cairo. The deal aims for complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, according to Trump's social media post.
The president stated that the disarmament would occur in phases as part of his Board of Peace initiative, which seeks to end Israel’s war in Gaza and rebuild the territory.
Trump emphasized that this agreement is a significant step towards lasting peace and security. He also mentioned that a new Palestinian government will work closely with the Board of Peace to govern Gaza.
However, Israeli officials expressed skepticism about Hamas' willingness to disarm. An unnamed Israeli official told Reuters: 'Israel demands the complete disarmament of Hamas, including the removal of weapons from Gaza and the complete demilitarisation of the Strip as a precondition for any process.'
Hamas officials provided their own perspective on the deal, stating that heavy weapons would only be stored under Palestinian administration control. Ghazi Hamad, a member of the Hamas negotiating team, told Al Jazeera: 'We will not take any action regarding disarmament prior to Israel’s withdrawal from the Strip.'
The timeline for implementing the agreement remains uncertain. A Board of Peace official estimated 200 to 320 days, but a US official downplayed this timeframe.
Earlier in the day, Israeli strikes killed at least six Palestinians in Gaza, including two children, according to medics' reports. This incident adds complexity to the ongoing negotiations and raises concerns about their feasibility.
Nickolay Mladenov, Trump’s Board of Peace envoy for Gaza, stated: 'Ahead of us is a Gaza rebuilt, governed by Palestinians and at peace with Israel and a political horizon to a meaningful resolution of the Israeli Palestinian conflict.'
Today, the Board of Peace reached a HISTORIC agreement for the COMPLETE DISARMAMENT of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza.
Donald Trump, US President
'We will not take any action regarding disarmament prior to Israel’s withdrawal from the Strip.'
Ghazi Hamad, Member of Hamas negotiating team
