Trump: Board of Peace reaches deal over Hamas disarmament
US President Donald Trump has said that the Board of Peace has reached an agreement for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas, as well as other Palestinian militant groups in Gaza.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the "historic" deal is a "monumental step toward lasting peace and security."
"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. At the same time, Israel will have the security it deserves," the US president said.
Trump said the deal represented a "major milestone" in implementing his 20-Point Plan to end the conflict in Gaza and rebuild the war-torn enclave.
The US president explained that the agreement would 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," he said.
Trump announced the agreement the day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to Israel from a visit to the US, during which he met with the US leader at the White House.
The US president also thanked mediators Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey for making "this historic breakthrough possible."
Earlier on Thursday, DW reported that negotiators meeting in Cairo had agreed on a 15-point roadmap on Hamas' disarmament, although amendments to the proposal were still being made.
While Trump has touted an agreement, there has been no official confirmation from Israel or from any of the mediators, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey.
Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by Germany, the EU, the US and some Arab states. ALSO READ: Australia Sues Telegram Over 'Terrorist Content' After Russia Charges Founder Pavel Durov
Hamas officials confirm deal to end conflict with Israel
Senior officials from Palestinian militant group Hamas have confirmed that they have agreed to a deal to end the conflict with Israel.
The confirmation comes after US President Donald Trump announced late Thursday night that the Board of Peace had agreed on the militant group's disarmament.
Speaking to the AFP news agency on condition of anonymity early Friday, two officials confirmed that they had come to an agreement.
They also said they expect mediators Egypt, Qatar and Turkey to make sure Israel fulfills its part of the deal, including the "gradual withdrawal" of Israeli troops from the enclave.
Israel has yet to comment on the announcements by Trump or by Hamas.
What is in Trump's 20-point peace plan for Gaza?
Donald Trump says the agreement on Hamas disarming is a "major milestone" in his 20-point plan for post-war Gaza.
The plan was unveiled in September last year.
Here's a reminder of some of the plan's main aims:
- Creating a pathway to a Palestinian state, which Israel has consistently and vehemently opposed
- Removing Hamas from power and securing a commitment from the militant group to disarm
- Reforming the Palestinian Authority, which runs the occupied West Bank
- Providing an economic plan for Gaza's post-war recovery and growth
- Providing security guarantees for Gaza, which would be enforced by the US and regional powers
- Ensuring that Israel halts all operations immediately upon an agreement, hands over any captured territories, and pledges not to occupy or annex Gaza
- The plan had also called for the return of remaining Israeli hostages, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners
- Those steps were partially fulfilled before the first phase of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas
DW spoke to Palestinian-American humanitarian activist Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib in October about the prospects of Hamas fully disarming. Here's what he had to say:
In the wake of Hamas' announcement on Friday, Alkhatib cautioned that the militant group's claims should be "treated with firm skepticism."
In a post on X, he said a Palestinian police force and a transitional government in Gaza is still "many months away," which will give the group "ample time" to shore up contingency plans and preserve its influence on the enclave's population.
"Just as there is no olive oil without olives, there is no Hamas without weapons and armed resistance. Some members may genuinely want to evolve and enter a political process, and they may; but they are unlikely to do so sustainably and successfully while still operating under the Hamas banner and identity," Alkhatib explained. ALSO READ: US bans Chinese and foreign-made humanoid robots
What will happen to Hamas' weapons?
Under the agreement with the Board of Peace to disarm Hamas, a transitional Palestinian committee of technocrats will run Gaza and will oversee the storing of the militant group's weapons, a senior Hamas official told the AFP news agency.
Hamas would hand over its arms to that transitional administration and to international mediators, rather than Israel.
"The National Committee for Administration of Gaza (NCAG) shall manage and execute the cataloguing and storage of weapons in accordance with the agreed timetable," the official said.
"The National Committee will be the sole entity authorised to retain, store, or control weapons in Gaza," they added.
What has Israel said about the plans?
Israel has not commented since Donald Trump announced that the Board of Peace had reached an agreement on the disarmament of Hamas in Gaza.
But before Trump's announcement late on Thursday, an Israeli official had said a 15-point proposal that was being discussed by officials from mediators Egypt, Qatar and Turkey did not meet Israel's demands for the complete demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.
Hamas has said its disarmament hinges on Israeli troops completely withdrawing from the enclave.
Israel, on the other hand, insists that it will not withdraw beyond the so-called "yellow line" before Hamas has completely disarmed.
