WASHINGTON (Realist English). US President Donald Trump has announced that an agreement has been reached on the complete disarmament of the Palestinian movement Hamas and all other armed groups in the Gaza Strip.
However, the Israeli side has yet to confirm its participation in the deal, and officials in Jerusalem are making it clear: the IDF will remain in the sector until full demilitarisation is achieved, and no concessions will be made.
“Today, the Council of Peace reached a HISTORIC agreement on the COMPLETE DISARMAMENT of Hamas and all other armed groups in the Gaza Strip,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. He called it a “huge step toward ensuring lasting peace and security.”
Terms of the agreement: phased disarmament and troop withdrawal
According to Trump, the agreement is a “critical step toward having the Gaza Strip run by a new Palestinian government.” It will be implemented in phases, under the “20‑point Trump Plan.” As disarmament is completed, Israeli forces will be withdrawn, and “International Stabilisation Forces” will begin working alongside a new Palestinian police force.
A senior Hamas official told the BBC that the movement agrees to full disarmament and that an official statement will be published soon. At the same time, Hamas negotiating team member Ghazi Hamad told Al Jazeera: “We will not take any action on disarmament until Israel withdraws from the sector.”
According to the “Council of Peace,” the “roadmap” provides for the removal of all types of weapons without exception, the destruction of tunnels, warehouses, and weapons manufacturing facilities. The key principle of the plan is “one authority, one law, one weapon.” Full authority must be transferred to a technocratic government.
The disarmament timeline is estimated at 200–350 days. A detailed schedule must be prepared within two weeks.
Israel’s position: scepticism and tough conditions
Despite Trump’s optimistic statements, Israel has not yet issued an official comment. Moreover, Israeli officials are indicating that the deal in its current form does not meet Jerusalem’s requirements.
A source in Israeli political circles stressed that the Gaza issue was not discussed during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump. Israel will not withdraw its forces from the “yellow line” until Hamas is fully disarmed.
The Israeli side has conveyed its objections to US Special Envoy Tony Blair regarding the 15‑point plan. As Netanyahu’s office stated, “the 15‑point document under discussion does not provide an adequate response to these demands.”
Israel demands full disarmament of Hamas, removal of weapons from Gaza, and complete demilitarisation of the sector as a precondition for any process.
As The Jerusalem Post notes, “Israel rejects the Hamas disarmament plan and refuses to withdraw troops from Gaza until full demilitarisation.” A diplomatic source stressed: “There will be no withdrawal of Israeli troops from the ‘yellow line’ in the Gaza Strip until Hamas is disarmed and the sector is demilitarised.”
Realities on the ground: IDF advances, casualties mount
While diplomats discuss disarmament, the Israeli army continues its offensive in Gaza. According to Axios, Israel currently controls 60% of the sector’s territory, compared to the 53% stipulated in the ceasefire agreement, and plans to expand this control to 70%.
Since the ceasefire regime came into effect in October 2025, at least 1,168 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks. According to the Hamas‑run Gaza Health Ministry, more than 73,290 people, including 21,280 children, have been killed since the war began in October 2023.
‘Zero trust’ and uncertainty
US officials acknowledge that Israel is “very sceptical” about whether Hamas will actually disarm. However, they insist that the agreement is built not on trust but on conditions, reciprocity, and verification. “This agreement is built on zero trust,” one official said. “No side will be asked to take a step until the other side’s obligations are confirmed.”
In the event of a breach, Israel reserves the right to resume military operations.
Further talks are expected in Cairo with the participation of mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. However, Israel’s position remains key: without full demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip, the IDF will not withdraw.
As the BBC notes, “it is too early to judge whether this agreement will be implemented, but this is the first time Hamas has stated its readiness to fully disarm, which was the most significant obstacle to peace talks.”
However, Israel’s scepticism and ongoing military operations call into question the realism of Trump’s “historic” agreement.
