Hamas has agreed to completely disarm in the Gaza Strip under a US-backed peace initiative announced by President Donald Trump, according to a senior Hamas official.
The official told the BBC that the group had accepted the Board of Peace proposal and that an official statement confirming the decision would be released shortly.
Trump described the agreement as a “major milestone” in implementing his 20-Point Peace Plan. Further stating that it represented a significant step towards ending the conflict and establishing a new Palestinian administration in Gaza.
According to the US president, the agreement provides for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups. Also included is the eventual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the reconstruction of the territory.
“Israel will withdraw from Gaza as disarmament is completed,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Adding that an International Stabilisation Force would work alongside a new Palestinian police force to maintain security after the transition.
The Board of Peace said months of “intensive, good-faith negotiations” had led to the agreement and that attention had now shifted to implementing the plan.
The proposal forms part of the second phase of the US-mediated Gaza ceasefire framework. According to documents seen by the BBC, Hamas would first catalogue and place its remaining heavy weapons under Palestinian supervision.
US officials said the process would begin with the disarmament of smaller armed factions before Hamas dismantles its broader military infrastructure. This includes tunnels, weapons depots and production facilities.
Officials acknowledged that dismantling this network would take considerably longer. They also stressed that the agreement operates under a strict verification mechanism.
Neither Hamas nor Israel would proceed to subsequent phases until the other had fulfilled its obligations. Although Hamas has indicated its acceptance of the proposal, Israel has not officially endorsed the agreement.
The Times of Israel reported that negotiators representing Hamas, the Board of Peace and mediating countries had signed the framework. They also quoted an unnamed Israeli official as saying the proposed terms did not satisfy Israel’s security requirements.
Earlier reports from Israeli media suggested the government remained opposed to aspects of the proposal under discussion. Trump thanked Egypt, Qatar and Turkey for their mediation efforts and expressed confidence that Israel would honour the agreement.
A senior US official said Washington was not asking Israel to do anything beyond commitments it had already made under the broader peace framework.
“If Israel decides not to withdraw, President Trump would be very disappointed,” the official said.
A meeting involving the ceasefire mediators is expected to take place in Cairo in the coming days to discuss implementation of the agreement.
The announcement comes after months of indirect negotiations aimed at ending the war. It all began following Hamas’ 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken. Israel responded with a large-scale military campaign in Gaza.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began. Furthermore, over 1,100 Palestinians have reportedly died since the ceasefire took effect last October.
International Legal Disputes
The war has also intensified international legal and diplomatic disputes. In 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif over alleged war crimes.
Israel rejected the warrants, while Hamas described the decision as an important precedent. A United Nations commission later accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, an allegation the Israeli government has strongly denied.
