Key facts
- Hamas has agreed to a 15-point draft peace plan for Gaza, brokered by Donald Trump's Board of Peace, which includes disarmament.
- US President Donald Trump stated that the 'Board of Peace' will collect Hamas's weapons.
- The Board of Peace previously announced that a Palestinian technocratic body, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), would hold and control all weapons in the Strip.
- Hamas has indicated it will only disarm contingent on Israeli troop withdrawal and increased aid flow.
- Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated that the draft agreement is not acceptable to Israel.
US President Donald Trump has stated that his 'Board of Peace' will be responsible for collecting Hamas's weapons as the group begins to disarm, a statement that appears to diverge from the board's own announcement that a Palestinian technocratic body would assume this role.
The Board of Peace had previously shared on X that a framework would include full demilitarization and the transfer of all civilian and security authorities in Gaza to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), explicitly stating, 'Only the NCAG will hold, store or control any weapon in the Strip.' This language was likely crucial for securing Hamas's agreement, as the group has insisted on dealing only with other Palestinians to demonstrate national unity.
Trump, who is the chairman for life of the Board of Peace, told reporters that the board would run the process of collecting weapons. However, Bishara Bahbah, a former chair of Arab Americans for Trump, suggested this was not a contradiction, explaining that the Board of Peace would collect the weapons and likely hand them to another party, such as the Egyptians, who would then ensure Hamas could not retrieve them.
Despite the agreement on the draft peace plan, which includes disarmament, Hamas has stated that any commitment to 'complete disarmament' depends on Washington and Israel honoring their commitments under the October 10 ceasefire deal. Hamas representative Ghazi Hamad reiterated that the group would retain its weapons until Israel halted its attacks, allowed more aid into Gaza, and withdrew its forces.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, however, stated that the government has not agreed to anything, calling the published draft agreement unacceptable and advocating for continued targeted killings and emigration. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing elections in less than two months, is reportedly keen to avoid appearing to compromise on issues related to Palestinians.
Analysts suggest that the implementation of the plan hinges on Trump personally applying pressure on Israel. The conflict has resulted in at least 73,341 Palestinians killed and 174,086 wounded in Gaza since October 7, 2023.