By ENewsXpress Desk
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that his “Board of Peace” had reached a framework for the disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, calling it a “HISTORIC agreement” and “a monumental step toward lasting PEACE and SECURITY” in a post on Truth Social. However, as of Thursday evening, Hamas had not publicly confirmed the deal, and one of the other groups party to the ceasefire disputed reports of an agreement altogether.
What the Proposed Framework Includes
According to a copy of the document reported by Al Jazeera, the framework stipulates that a detailed disarmament roadmap must be prepared within 14 days, with possible extensions subject to approval by an international verification body and agreement of all parties. Under the plan:
- Weapons would be surrendered in phases under international supervision, with police weapons transferred first and personal weapons last, to a new National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG)
- An International Stabilization Force (ISF) would be deployed alongside a new Palestinian police force to oversee security
- Administrative control of Gaza would shift to the NCAG, a technocratic Palestinian body, replacing both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority’s role in governance
- Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza in phases as disarmament is completed
A Deal Officials Call a “Roadmap,” Not Final
U.S. and Board of Peace officials, speaking to reporters Thursday night, described the framework as a pathway to a potential agreement rather than a finalized one, characterising it as a “conditions-based deal.” They said the timetable for Israel’s withdrawal has not yet been finalised.
Hamas Has Not Confirmed the Deal
A senior Hamas official, Ghazi Hamad, told Al Jazeera that “difficult” negotiations had produced an agreement, but his remarks raised questions about how it would be implemented. “We will not take any steps regarding disarmament before Israel withdraws from the Gaza Strip,” Hamad said, adding that the new administration would carry out disarmament without Israeli involvement — a sequencing that appears to differ from Trump’s description of a simultaneous, phased process.
Palestinian Islamic Jihad Disputes the Reports
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another armed group that was party to the ceasefire, said early Friday that reports of the agreement were “inaccurate,” signalling that not all factions in Gaza are aligned on the framework’s terms.
Israel Yet to Respond
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration had not issued an official comment as of publication. Israeli officials have reportedly expressed deep skepticism that Hamas will actually surrender its weapons, and a diplomatic source said Israel had earlier demanded complete disarmament as a condition.
Why This Matters
If implemented, the agreement would mark a significant step in Trump’s broader multi-phase Gaza peace plan, which has largely stalled since the initial ceasefire and hostage release phase took effect in October. But the plan requires Hamas and Israel to complete a complex series of reciprocal, independently verified steps over roughly seven to eight months — and the gap between Trump’s framing and Hamas’s own public statements suggests significant hurdles remain before any deal is finalised.
Note: This is a rapidly developing story. Statements from Hamas, Israel, and mediators may be updated or clarified in the coming days.
