U.S. President Donald Trump has announced what he described as a “historic” agreement under his administration’s Gaza peace initiative, saying Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups have agreed to a phased disarmament plan that could pave the way for an Israeli military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump hailed the agreement as “a monumental step” toward ending the conflict, crediting his administration’s Board of Peace with brokering the deal after months of negotiations.
“This agreement is 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,” Trump said. “At the same time, Israel will have the security it deserves, with Gaza no longer used as a base for terror attacks.”
According to the agreement, Hamas and other Palestinian factions would surrender their weapons in phases under the supervision of a National Committee responsible for administering Gaza, with an international verification mechanism overseeing implementation. Heavy weapons would be decommissioned after an inventory process, while all armed military activity in the territory would cease as the plan progresses.
The roadmap calls for detailed implementation plans to be finalized within two weeks, although the timeline may be extended if all parties and international monitors agree. Israeli troop withdrawals would occur in parallel with verified disarmament, making each stage dependent on the successful completion of the previous one.
Hamas confirmed that an agreement had been reached in principle but stressed that implementation would depend on Israel fulfilling its commitments, including withdrawing forces from Gaza and allowing reconstruction efforts to proceed.
Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas’s negotiating team, said the talks had been difficult but produced the most workable compromise possible.
“These negotiations were difficult and hard, and we tried to reach the best possible formula that was achievable,” Hamad told Al Jazeera, adding that Hamas would not implement the agreement unless Israel also honored its obligations.
Israeli officials had not publicly commented on the latest agreement at the time of Trump’s announcement, leaving uncertainty over how quickly the proposal could move forward. Analysts note that Israel has consistently maintained that Hamas must be fully disarmed before ending its military campaign in Gaza.
The agreement forms part of Trump’s broader 20-point Gaza peace initiative, launched to end the war through a phased ceasefire, the release of hostages, the establishment of a Palestinian technocratic administration, and the deployment of an international stabilization force to oversee security and reconstruction.
The Board of Peace, chaired by Trump and backed by a coalition of international partners, was created to oversee Gaza’s transition from conflict toward reconstruction and self-governance. While supporters view the initiative as an innovative framework for lasting peace, critics have questioned its legitimacy and the absence of broader Palestinian political representation.
Despite Trump’s optimism, significant obstacles remain. The disarmament process is expected to take many months, and its success will depend on mutual trust, international verification, and continued cooperation between Israel, Palestinian factions, and international mediators. Whether the agreement can be fully implemented will likely determine if it marks a genuine turning point in the conflict or becomes another unrealized peace effort.
