- President Trump announced that Hamas and other armed groups have agreed to fully disarm in Gaza under a road map that must be finalized within 14 days.
- Israel says it will withdraw its military only after Hamas completes a genuine disarmament, while Hamas maintains disarmament depends on a full Israeli withdrawal and the start of Gaza's reconstruction.
- The agreement advances Trump’s broader postwar plan, which reimagines the Gaza Strip as a peaceful, economically sound region.
The terrorist organization Hamas and other armed groups have agreed to total disarmament in Gaza, President Donald Trump announced on Thursday evening.
Trump described the agreement as a “major milestone” in the implementation of his 20-point plan for peace, which went into effect last October.
From a copy of the disarmament agreement the Qatar-based newspaper Al Jazeera reportedly received, the deal requires that a precise disarmament road map must be prepared within 14 days.
In a statement to AFP following Trump’s post, a political source said Israel agrees to leave the strip after Hamas’ “genuine disarmament.”
“Israel has reiterated that there will be no withdrawal whatsoever of the IDF from the current Yellow Line unless Hamas undergoes a genuine disarmament,” they said.
As of mid-July, Israeli Central Command chief Avi Bluth said that the Israeli military controls more than 60% of the Gaza Strip.
A member of Hamas’ negotiating delegation, Ghazi Hamad, responded to the news. “These negotiations were difficult and hard, and we tried to reach the best possible formula that was achievable,” he said.
Hamad added that they wouldn’t disarm unless Israel withdrew from Gaza and reconstruction in Palestinian territory begins.
Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Of the 251 hostages, 85 died in captivity. Reports from that day, some of which emerged as video footage taken by Hamas, show widespread torture, rape and murder.
Following Oct. 7, a 140-square mile area on Israel’s west coast, the Gaza Strip, became a war ground. A ceasefire was not reached for two years, until Oct. 9, 2025.
What comes next?
The ultimate goal of Trump’s 20-point plan is to rebuild Gaza under a new government.
In January, a United Nations Security Council Resolution created the Board of Peace, which is overseen by Trump, former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Special Envoy for Peace Jared Kushner.
Hamas has also formally dissolved its governing body, giving authority to the 20-point plan’s required technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee.
If Hamas disarms and Israel removes its military presence from the region, the plan will proceed to economic development of the area.
“New Gaza will be fully committed to building a prosperous economy and to peaceful coexistence with their neighbors,” the plan states.