The Palestinian militant group Hamas has agreed to a United States-backed proposal for its complete disarmament in the Gaza Strip, marking what could become a historic breakthrough in efforts to end years of conflict in the enclave.
The development follows an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who disclosed late Thursday that an agreement had been reached to pave the way for Hamas to surrender its weapons as part of a broader peace framework for Gaza.
A senior Hamas official also confirmed to the BBC that the group had accepted the proposal, adding that an official statement outlining its position would be released.
If implemented, the agreement would represent the first time Hamas has publicly accepted the principle of complete disarmament—an issue that has remained one of the biggest obstacles to achieving a lasting ceasefire and political settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.
Trump described the development as a major milestone toward reshaping governance in Gaza.
“It is a critical step towards Gaza finally being governed by a new Palestinian government,” the U.S. president said.
Israel Yet to Respond
As of the time of filing this report, the Israeli government had not officially commented on the reported agreement.
However, U.S. officials indicated that Washington expects Israel to honour its commitments under the proposed arrangement, warning that President Trump would be “very disappointed” if Israel failed to withdraw in accordance with the deal.
The reported agreement forms part of the second phase of a U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire framework first unveiled in October last year, which includes provisions for Hamas to completely disarm as part of a broader political transition.
Major Test Lies Ahead
Despite the breakthrough, uncertainty remains over whether the agreement will ultimately be implemented.
Analysts caution that previous ceasefire arrangements have collapsed amid disagreements over implementation, making it too early to conclude that the latest deal will produce lasting peace.
The reported acceptance by Hamas nevertheless represents a potentially significant shift in the group’s position and could alter the trajectory of future negotiations if both sides follow through on their commitments.
Access to Gaza Remains Restricted
The conflict in Gaza has continued under intense international scrutiny since the outbreak of war in 2023.
Israel has maintained restrictions preventing independent international journalists from entering Gaza, limiting direct reporting from inside the territory and making verification of developments increasingly challenging.
Observers say the coming days will be crucial in determining whether the reported agreement develops into a durable ceasefire and opens the way for a new political and security arrangement in Gaza.
