Key facts
- Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) have agreed to a disarmament plan for Gaza.
- The agreement is contingent on Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and progress on reconstruction.
- A phased disarmament process will begin with the entry of a National Committee and International Stabilisation Force.
- Weapons will be handed over to a National Committee, which will administer Gaza.
- President Donald Trump described the deal as a significant step towards peace and security.
Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) have reached an agreement on a disarmament plan for Gaza, contingent on Israel's withdrawal from the territory and progress on reconstruction efforts. The deal, brokered by the Board of Peace, outlines a phased approach to disarming militant factions and establishing a new Palestinian administration.
According to statements from Hamas, the two groups met in Cairo to discuss the escalating situation and stressed the necessity of forcing Israel to end its military offensive and fully withdraw from Gaza. Zaher Jabarin, Hamas's leader in the occupied West Bank, led the Hamas delegation, while PIJ was represented by its secretary-general, Ziyad al-Nakhalah.
The agreement stipulates that a precise disarmament roadmap must be prepared within 14 days, with possible extensions subject to approval by an international verification body and all parties involved. Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas's negotiating team, indicated that the group would not implement any part of the agreement if Israeli forces failed to fulfill their obligations, emphasizing that disarmament depends on Israel's withdrawal and reconstruction progress.
U.S. President Donald Trump hailed the agreement as a "monumental step" towards peace and security, framing it as a success for the Board of Peace. The plan envisions Israeli forces withdrawing from Gaza and being replaced by an International Stabilization Force working with a new Palestinian police force once disarmament is complete. The process will begin with the entry of a National Committee and the International Stabilisation Force, which will oversee the inventory and storage of weapons. Weapons will be handed over to the National Committee, which will administer Gaza, with no weapons to be transferred to Israel or any non-Palestinian body.
However, significant hurdles and long timelines remain. While the Gaza police force is expected to turn over weapons to the administration within two weeks, the surrender of heavy weapons and the decommissioning of Hamas tunnels are slated for later stages, with specific timelines for these actions not yet provided. Israel has not yet commented on the agreement, and reports indicate that Israel has repeatedly violated previous ceasefires.