Hamas accepts Trump Gaza disarm plan amid Israel Iran war
A senior Hamas official told the BBC the group has agreed to Donald Trump's Board of Peace plan for complete disarmament in Gaza, while Israel has yet to comment. The claim lands amid the wider Israel Iran war, with phased Israeli withdrawal and independent verification still unresolved.
US President Donald Trump said overnight that an agreement had been reached for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas and other armed groups, describing it as a critical step toward a new Palestinian government. Follow related coverage on our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub as the crisis evolves.
Key Takeaways
- A senior Hamas official confirmed to the BBC that the group has accepted Trump's Board of Peace disarmament roadmap for the first time.
- The plan links phased Israeli withdrawal to verified decommissioning of weapons, tunnels and production sites.
- Israel has not issued an official response; some Israeli politicians have already voiced skepticism.
- Hamas official Ghazi Hamad told Reuters that Israel must approve the text and begin withdrawal before disarmament proceeds.
- The announcement coincides with renewed strikes in the Israel Iran war, including Iranian drones aimed at a US base in Kuwait.
What did Hamas agree to under Trump's Gaza plan?
According to BBC reporting, a four-page Board of Peace roadmap sets out phased Hamas disarmament alongside gradual Israeli withdrawal, with each step to be independently verified. Trump said Israeli forces would withdraw "as disarmament is completed," with an International Stabilization Force and a new Palestinian police force taking over security.
US and Board of Peace officials outlined a technical sequence: Gaza police weapons would go to transitional authorities first, then heavy weapons, tunnels and depots would be decommissioned, and personal arms would be handled under Palestinian law. Hamas's Ghazi Hamad told Reuters the group would hand weapons to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a technocratic body set up by the Board of Peace.
Why has Israel not endorsed the deal yet?
Israel has not publicly commented since Trump's announcement. BBC correspondents in Jerusalem noted skeptical reactions from coalition figures, including Likud's Moshe Sa'ada, who said Israel would not act until Hamas is fully disarmed, while Hamas expects withdrawal first.
Hamad told Reuters Israel must approve the agreement before Hamas implements it. An Israeli official earlier told Reuters the discussed terms did not meet Israel's demand for complete demilitarization of Gaza as a precondition. US officials said they were confident Israel would adhere, adding Trump would be "very, very disappointed" if it does not withdraw as agreed.
How does this fit the wider Israel Iran war?
The Gaza claim lands while the US-Israeli conflict with Iran is again escalating. The Guardian reported Iran's army said it launched drone strikes Friday on US facilities at Ahmad al-Jaber air base in Kuwait, citing recent US attacks, including a strike on a home in Qeshm Island. There was no immediate comment from US Central Command.
Diplomats still caution that paper promises are not peace. Board of Peace high representative Nickolay Mladenov said implementation and verification "have to be real," and withdrawal must move "in lockstep with decommissioning." With elections looming in Israel and the US midterms approaching, both politics and the broader Israel Iran war keep the path fragile.