Hamas announced on Friday that it had reached an agreement on the disarmament of its forces in the Gaza Strip, marking a key milestone in the second phase of the U.S.-backed peace initiative aimed at ending the war between the Palestinian movement and Israel.
The announcement came two days after U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington. Trump had first revealed the breakthrough on his Truth Social platform, describing the deal as a "historic" step toward peace. Israel had not immediately commented on Hamas' statement.
According to Hamas officials, the agreement covers both the movement's disarmament and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. However, an Israeli political source reiterated on Thursday that no withdrawal from the so-called "Yellow Line" would take place until Hamas is fully disarmed and the Gaza Strip is completely demilitarized.
Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas' negotiating team, told AFP that the issue of the group's weapons would be overseen by the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a technocratic Palestinian body established by Donald Trump's Peace Council to manage civilian affairs during the transitional period. Hamad added that Hamas would now discuss the implementation mechanism with international mediators.
The announcement has raised cautious hopes among Gaza residents after nearly ten months of ceasefire. "At last, the world's longest nightmare is coming to an end," said Mohammed Hamdouna, a 35-year-old teacher displaced by the war. However, he said he would remain cautious until border crossings reopen and humanitarian aid begins flowing freely into the enclave.
Others remain skeptical. "Israel does not respect agreements. They will find a reason to resume the fighting," said Ahmed Aal, a 37-year-old taxi driver.
The war in Gaza began after the October 7, 2023 attack carried out by Hamas against Israel, which was followed by a large-scale Israeli military offensive in the Palestinian territory. Despite the ceasefire, humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain severe, with large parts of the enclave devastated and access to aid still heavily restricted.
