Hamas accepts Gaza disarmament framework but sets conditions for Israel

President Donald Trump declared on Thursday evening that his Board of Peace had reached a "historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza," calling it a "monumental step toward lasting peace and security." By Friday morning, Hamas officials confirmed they had accepted the framework — but with conditions that underscore how far the parties remain from implementation.thehill+3

The Deal's Framework

Under the phased plan, Hamas would surrender its weapons to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a technocratic Palestinian body established under the Board of Peace. Heavy weapons, tunnels, and weapons-production facilities would be decommissioned over a period that Board of Peace officials estimated at 200 to 350 days. An International Stabilization Force would deploy alongside a new Palestinian police force to maintain security as Israeli forces withdraw.axios+2

Trump thanked mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey for facilitating the talks, which took place in El Alamein, Egypt. Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace's high representative for Gaza, wrote on X that the deal "took months of very difficult negotiations" and stressed that "implementation and verification have to be real."dailysabah+1

Competing Conditions

Hamas official Ghazi Hamad told Reuters on Friday that the group would not take disarmament steps until Israel ends its attacks, increases aid flows, and withdraws its forces per the October ceasefire agreement. "We insisted to the mediators that Israel must abide by the agreement," he said. A senior Hamas official told AFP that weapons would be placed under NCAG supervision rather than handed to Israel.cnbc+1

Israel has not formally responded to Trump's announcement. Before it was made, an Israeli official told AFP that the 15-point proposal did not "satisfactorily" address demands for complete demilitarization as a precondition for any process. A U.S. official acknowledged that Israel is "very skeptical that Hamas will disarm" but characterized the framework as "conditions-based" rather than built on trust.apnews+3

Obstacles Ahead

The Associated Press reported that the Gaza police force would begin turning over weapons within two weeks, but this does not include the bulk of Hamas militants or heavy weaponry. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly urged Hamas not to accept the deal during a recent visit to Tehran, though U.S. officials said Iran is too preoccupied with its own conflict with the United States to offer Hamas meaningful support.axios+1

Cairo is set to host a meeting of truce mediators focused on implementation, according to Egypt's state-linked Al-Qahera News. A U.S. official warned that Trump would be "very disappointed" if Israel obstructed the process.theconversation+1