President Donald Trump announced Thursday that a deal has been reached for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw forces from Gaza, though officials warn that complex phases, long timelines, and significant implementation hurdles remain nine months after the initial U.S.-brokered ceasefire.
Nine months after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire first brought a temporary halt to active hostilities, the White House announced what President Donald Trump described as a breakthrough agreement addressing the most difficult provisions of the truce. The negotiations had previously stalled over the second phase of the accord, which demands both the disarmament of Hamas and the broader reconstruction of the battered Palestinian enclave.
Phased Disarmament Plan and the Role of the International Stabilization Force
The newly outlined framework relies on a multi-stage process designed to gradually transfer security responsibilities away from militant factions and toward international and technocratic bodies. According to the administration’s 20-point plan, the militant group must surrender its weapons and destroy its vast network of underground tunnels.
“The agreement will be carried out in carefully structured phases. As disarmament is completed, Israeli forces will withdraw, and the International Stabilization Force will work with a new Palestinian police force to take responsibility for Gaza being safe for its residents and its neighbors.”
President Donald Trump, via social media
U.S. and Board of Peace officials speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity outlined an initial two-week window for the local Gaza police force to turn over weapons to the technocratic Board of Peace-backed administration. However, officials clarified that this initial step does not include heavy weaponry or the vast majority of active Hamas militants. Instead, the surrender of heavy weapons and the decommissioning of Hamas tunnels and other infrastructure is slated for a subsequent phase expected to span between 200 and 350 days.
Divergent Positions from Hamas and Israeli Skepticism
While a Hamas official confirmed Friday that an agreement regarding disarmament had been reached, Israel did not immediately indicate its concurrence. Israeli leadership has maintained deep skepticism regarding whether Hamas will genuinely relinquish its arms or surrender behind-the-scenes control of the territory. The militant group’s founding charter centers on armed resistance, and its arsenal has long formed a core pillar of its identity.
Despite this historical resistance, Hamas announced earlier this month that it had dissolved its governing apparatus in Gaza, preparing instead to transfer executive power to a United Nations-backed technical committee. A U.S. official noted that Israel was consulted throughout every step of the negotiation process, though Washington insisted that Tel Aviv is not being asked to undertake any obligations beyond its original commitments under the 20-point plan—chiefly, withdrawing forces and ending airstrikes.
That same U.S. official emphasized that Trump would be very, very disappointed
if Israel failed to adhere to the agreed terms. The announcement coincides with ongoing military actions and stalled diplomacy linked to the broader conflict that the United States and Israel launched against Iran in February.
Humanitarian Realities and Regional Wildcards
The announcement arrives against the backdrop of a catastrophic humanitarian toll. The war began following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. Israel’s subsequent military offensive has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, according to figures from Gaza’s Health Ministry, leaving survivors confined to squalid tent encampments and heavily damaged urban districts while Israeli forces maintain control over more than half of the territory.
Meanwhile, regional dynamics continue to complicate the path forward. Administration officials pointed to Iran as a primary wildcard in the equation. Although Tehran advised its allies within Hamas against accepting the deal, its capacity to provide material support remains constrained due to its ongoing conflict with the United States. With Israel’s U.N.
