Trump Announces Agreement on Hamas Disarmament

US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced what he described as a historic agreement for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas, saying it marked a major step toward establishing a new Palestinian administration in Gaza.

Senior Hamas officials told AFP that understandings reached with Israel include provisions on the group's weapons and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

"An agreement has been reached regarding the issue of weapons... Furthermore, an agreement has been reached on a gradual withdrawal of (Israeli forces)" from Gaza, a senior Hamas official said.

Israel did not immediately comment on the claim.

Trump's announcement followed reports from sources involved in mediation efforts in Cairo, who told AFP that Hamas was moving closer to an agreement involving the decommissioning of its weapons.

"Today, the Board of Peace reached a HISTORIC agreement for the COMPLETE DISARMAMENT of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza. This is a monumental step toward lasting PEACE and SECURITY," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding that the process would take place in "carefully structured phases."

He said Israeli forces would withdraw as disarmament progressed, while an International Stabilization Force would work alongside a new Palestinian police force to ensure security in Gaza. Trump also thanked Egypt, Qatar and Turkey for their mediation efforts.

Hamas's disarmament has remained one of the main obstacles to advancing the ceasefire that has been in effect since October. Despite the truce, violence has persisted, with Israeli strikes killing at least four people, including two children, on Thursday, according to health officials.

Egypt is expected to host a new round of Gaza ceasefire talks involving the United States, Qatar and Turkey, according to state-linked Al-Qahera News. The meeting is expected to focus on implementing the second phase of the ceasefire plan, for which Hamas and other Palestinian factions have already agreed on a roadmap.

Under Trump's 20-point peace plan, the second phase envisions Hamas's disarmament alongside a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops. The proposal also calls for the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a body of Palestinian technocrats, to oversee the territory's day-to-day administration during the post-war transition.

A diplomatic source familiar with the negotiations said mediators were continuing to advance a roadmap aimed at transferring full authority to the technocratic administration while ensuring all weapons are decommissioned.

"There will be no exceptions for certain weapons or certain people. One authority, one law, one weapon," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The roadmap also предусматриes dismantling tunnels, weapons depots and arms production facilities, with all weapons to be placed under the control of the NCAG in coordination with the International Stabilization Force (ISF), a proposed multinational force operating under Trump's Board of Peace. A verification mechanism would monitor compliance by all sides.

A Hamas official familiar with the talks said the group was awaiting Israel's response to amendments it had submitted through mediators, including changes to the section dealing with weapons.

An Israeli political source, however, said the current proposal did not adequately address Israel's core demand for Hamas's complete disarmament, including the removal of all weapons from Gaza and the territory's full demilitarization.

The source also said Gaza was not discussed during this week's meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump in Washington.