Trump Claims Hamas Deal on Phased Gaza Disarmament

Gaza residents face another uncertain turn in a conflict that has displaced nearly the entire population and left reconstruction stalled for months. President Donald Trump announced late Thursday that the U.S.-led Board of Peace had secured an agreement for the complete, phased disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups, with Israeli forces to withdraw incrementally as verification proceeds. The plan would shift day-to-day administration to a technocratic Palestinian National Committee under the Board’s oversight while an International Stabilization Force of roughly 5,000 troops trains and works alongside a new local police service.

Implementation hinges on a strict sequence that neither side fully trusts the other to follow. An inventory of heavy weapons, production sites, depots and tunnels must be completed within 14 days of formal acceptance, after which Israeli troops pull back to designated lines and the international force assumes security roles. Hamas negotiator Ghazi Hamad told multiple outlets that his group will not begin surrendering arms until Israel halts attacks, increases aid flows and completes withdrawals required under the October 2025 ceasefire. Israeli officials have not publicly endorsed the roadmap and have privately stated that no withdrawal will occur until Gaza is fully demilitarized.

The Board of Peace, chaired for life by Trump and including figures such as Tony Blair and Jared Kushner, was established under U.N. Security Council Resolution 2803 to oversee the second phase of the original 20-point plan. The process is expected to take 200 to 320 days if all conditions are met. Several European governments declined to join the Board over concerns about its mandate and U.S. dominance. On the ground, Palestinian health authorities report at least 1,100 deaths from Israeli strikes since the ceasefire took effect, while aid restrictions and continued expansion of the so-called Yellow Line persist. Israeli political sources note that far-right coalition partners oppose any withdrawal and favor new settlements. Verification will be conducted by an international commission whose composition remains unspecified.