Key facts
- Deal announced
- Hamas confirmed agreement to disarm in exchange for gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
- Trump's role
- US President Donald Trump announced the 'complete disarmament' of Hamas.
- Oversight body
- A committee established by Trump's Board of Peace will oversee the storage of weapons.
- Israeli withdrawal
- Israeli forces would withdraw 'as disarmament is completed.'
- Casualties since ceasefire
- At least 1,214 Palestinians killed in Gaza since the ceasefire, per health ministry.
- Next steps
- Hamas to discuss implementation details with mediators; Egypt to host mediator meeting soon.
Background
Hamas confirmed on Friday that it had agreed to a deal with Israel that would lead to the group's disarmament in return for the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip. The announcement follows months of stalled efforts to secure a lasting end to the war.
An October ceasefire remains in place between Israel and Hamas, but it has not halted the violence. Israel has continued near-daily air and artillery strikes across the territory, more than 60 percent of which it occupies, since the fragile truce came into effect.
At least 1,214 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire, according to the territory's health ministry, whose figures the United Nations considers reliable. Tens of thousands of people still live in tents after nearly three years of Israeli air strikes flattened much of the territory's standing structures.
Current situation
US President Donald Trump announced the 'complete disarmament' of Hamas, calling it a critical step towards a new Palestinian government in Gaza. He said Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza 'as disarmament is completed.'
Hamas officials told AFP that a committee established by Trump's Board of Peace to govern Gaza would oversee the process of storing the Islamist movement's weapons. The group said it expected mediators and the Board of Peace to ensure Israel complied with the deal's terms, which included Israel's 'gradual withdrawal' from Gaza.
The text of the deal has not been released publicly, and there was no immediate statement from Israel. A diplomatic source told AFP before the announcement that the plan would create 'a process for the elimination of all tunnels, depots of weapons and any weapons production facilities.'
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Gaza occupied by Israel | more than 60 percent |
| Palestinians killed since ceasefire | at least 1,214 |
| People killed in Israeli strikes on Thursday | at least 4 |
| Children among Thursday's dead | 2 |
Impacts
If implemented, the deal could lead to the disarmament of Hamas and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, potentially reshaping governance in the territory. The Board of Peace confirmed that the National Committee for Administration of Gaza (NCAG) will 'soon begin a phased transition toward full authority.'
Trump said in a social media post that the International Stabilization Force 'will work with a new Palestinian police force to take responsibility for Gaza being safe for its residents and its neighbours.' Hamas announced earlier this month that it had dissolved its government in Gaza and was preparing to transfer power to a technical committee backed by the United Nations.
The deal's success depends on Israel's compliance. Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas's negotiating team, said, 'The agreement contains a clear provision stating that Israel must commit to and implement its obligations. If Israel does not implement the agreement, neither will we.'
Future outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
Hamas said it would now discuss implementation details with mediators and agree on a timetable. Hamad told AFP, 'This process will take about 14 days, or perhaps longer. We must agree on every detail: how the agreement will be implemented, when it will be implemented and the mechanisms for carrying it out.'
Egypt's state-linked Al Qahera News said Cairo is set to host a meeting 'soon' of the Gaza truce mediators, which also include the United States, Qatar and Turkey, focused on the second phase of the ceasefire plan.
If the implementation phase proceeds, the deal could lead to a new Palestinian government in Gaza and a reduction in violence. However, if Israel does not comply, Hamas has warned it will not implement the agreement, potentially prolonging the conflict. The coming days will be critical as mediators work on the timetable.
Source: yalibnan.com
