WASHINGTON – In a significant development amidst ongoing tensions, President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that a preliminary agreement has been reached for Hamas to disarm and for Israeli forces to withdraw from Gaza. However, the announcement comes with a caveat: many hurdles, conditions, and extended timelines remain before any resolution to the conflict can be achieved. As of now, neither Hamas nor Israel has indicated their agreement to this deal.
This announcement follows a U.S.-brokered ceasefire signed nine months ago, which has seen negotiations between Israel and Hamas largely stagnate, particularly concerning the disarmament of Hamas and the reconstruction of Gaza.
Trump stated on social media, “The agreement will be carried out in carefully structured phases.” He elaborated that as disarmament progresses, Israeli forces would withdraw, and an International Stabilization Force would collaborate with a new Palestinian police force to ensure safety in Gaza for its residents and neighboring areas.
The 20-point ceasefire plan proposed by Trump demands that Hamas surrender its weaponry and dismantle its extensive network of tunnels. It also envisions a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the establishment of a technocratic Palestinian government, and the deployment of an international security force to facilitate the rebuilding of the war-torn territory.
Despite the optimistic tone of the announcement, U.S. officials and members of the Board of Peace—an international organization formed by Trump to oversee the ceasefire—have acknowledged the lack of specific timelines for Hamas’s disarmament and the disarmament of other militant groups in Gaza, such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
However, the Gaza police force is expected to surrender their weapons to the newly established Gaza administration in the next two weeks. It is crucial to note that this police force does not encompass the majority of Hamas militants, and the heavy weaponry remains outside the current agreement.
The surrender of heavy weapons and the dismantling of Hamas’s tunnels and other military infrastructure are anticipated to occur later in a process expected to span between 200 to 350 days, as indicated by a Board of Peace official.
Israel, which has historically expressed skepticism regarding Hamas’s willingness to disarm, was consulted throughout the negotiation process. A U.S. official noted that Israel was not being asked to exceed its initial commitments under Trump’s 20-point plan, which entails withdrawing its forces and ceasing airstrikes in the region.
The official conveyed that Trump would be “very, very disappointed” if Israel fails to adhere to the agreement. Recent discussions between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House did not shed much light on the negotiations; however, they underscored the ongoing complexities surrounding the conflict.
The situation remains volatile, with Iran’s role as a wildcard. Although Iranian officials have advised Hamas against accepting a deal, their capacity to support the group is limited due to their ongoing conflict with the United States.
Hamas has historically insisted on completing the first phase of the ceasefire before addressing its arsenal. The group, which views armed resistance against Israel as central to its identity, has expressed reluctance to forfeit its stockpile, which includes rockets and anti-tank missiles. However, a recent announcement indicated that Hamas has dissolved its government in Gaza and is preparing to hand over power to a technical committee supported by the United Nations as part of the ceasefire agreement.
The conflict in Gaza escalated dramatically following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals and the abduction of 251 people. In response, Israel’s military actions in Gaza have claimed over 73,000 Palestinian lives, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Currently, Israeli forces control more than half of Gaza, leaving many Palestinians living in dire conditions, confined to overcrowded tent camps and severely damaged urban neighborhoods.
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Cooper reported from Phoenix and Amiri from New York. Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer contributed from the United Nations.
