Trump says ‘complete disarmament’ of Hamas agreed in Gaza but Israel yet to accept

What Happened

On Thursday night, US President Donald Trump announced that Hamas had agreed to a 'roadmap' for the 'complete disarmament' of militant groups in Gaza, negotiated by the US-established Board of Peace (BoP) in Cairo. The 14-point plan, posted by the BoP on X, calls for a phased, reciprocal process: Hamas and other armed factions would gradually decommission heavy weapons, production sites, and tunnels, linked to an Israeli military withdrawal from areas it holds in Gaza. Control of the territory would transfer to a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG)—a panel of Palestinian technocrats waiting in Cairo—supported by a newly trained Palestinian police force and an international stabilisation force (ISF). An international verification committee (IVC) would oversee implementation, with a 14-day window after all parties accept the roadmap to establish timelines and mechanisms. However, the Israeli government has not accepted the plan. Far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called it 'unacceptable' and demanded continued assassinations, while an Israeli official said the plan does not provide a 'satisfactory response' to Israel’s demand for complete disarmament as a precondition. Hours after Trump’s announcement, Israel conducted an airstrike on Gaza, wounding several people. Hamas negotiator Ghazi Hamad stated the group would only disarm in lockstep with Israel’s withdrawal, warning that if Israel does not implement its obligations, Hamas will not either.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

This represents the first explicit Hamas agreement to disarmament terms, potentially breaking the deadlock that has stalled the October ceasefire and justifying continued Israeli operations. If implemented, it would fundamentally alter the security and governance landscape in Gaza, shifting power to a non-Hamas interim administration backed by international forces, and could pressure Israel to withdraw and allow reconstruction. Rejection or failure could prolong the war and deepen the humanitarian crisis.

Watch For

Whether Israel formally accepts or rejects the roadmap; the start of the 14-day period to set implementation timelines if all parties agree; any halt in Israeli airstrikes or ground advances; potential entry of NCAG members into Gaza and initiation of police training; Hamas’s compliance with disarmament if Israeli withdrawal begins; reactions from mediating states (Egypt, Qatar) and whether the international stabilisation force deploys.