World reacts with cautious optimism to Hamas disarmament agreement

What Happened

Hamas announced it had agreed to a deal aiming to fully end Israel's war on Gaza, now nearly three years old, with the group committing to disarm and surrender its weapons in stages in return for an Israeli military withdrawal. The agreement, confirmed by the United States and other mediators, was unveiled late Thursday by President Donald Trump after the US-led Board of Peace and International Stabilization Force for Gaza said mediators from Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye and the US had finalised a roadmap. Hamas negotiator Ghazi Hamad described the deal as a 'comprehensive package' conditional on an end to Israel's offensive, full troop withdrawal, deployment of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza and international forces, reconstruction, and disbanding of Israeli-backed militias. Trump heralded the accord as 'a historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza' and 'a monumental step toward lasting peace and security.' Reactions were mixed: the Israeli government had made no official response, but far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir rejected the draft as 'unacceptable to Israel,' demanding continued assassinations of Hamas members. Former army chief Gadi Eisenkot said the draft exposed an 'outrageous gap' between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's promises and reality. Palestinian Islamic Jihad called reports of an agreement 'inaccurate' and said it had reservations. The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza welcomed the roadmap and declared 'full readiness' to assume governance. Board of Peace director Nickolay Mladenov stressed the need for 'real and effective' implementation and verification mechanisms, with Israeli withdrawal proceeding in parallel with weapons dismantling.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The deal marks the first publicly acknowledged framework for Hamas's disarmament and could end the devastating three-year war, but its implementation is fraught. It hinges on parallel, verifiable steps—Hamas giving up weapons while Israel withdraws—under a new technocratic Palestinian administration and international force. Deep mistrust, far-right Israeli opposition, and Palestinian factional dissent underscore the fragility. The accord also tests Trump's 20-point plan and the viability of the Board of Peace mechanism, with implications for Gaza's governance and regional security architecture.

Watch For

Cairo is preparing further meetings with US, Qatari, and Turkish representatives to lock in second-phase commitments. The Israeli government's official response—expected after Shabbat—will be pivotal, as will whether Ben-Gvir's rejection signals coalition instability. Palestinian Islamic Jihad's reservations could derail the arms handover if not resolved. Concrete markers include the initial steps of disarmament and withdrawal, the standing‑up of the National Committee, and any spoiler violence, especially given Trump's caveat about 'ups and downs.'