Hamas stated it would begin laying down weapons under terms of a ceasefire agreement announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, contingent on Israel halting military operations and withdrawing from Gaza. The announcement represents a potential turning point in the conflict, though experts and officials acknowledged substantial hurdles to execution.
The agreement builds on a ceasefire framework announced last October that called for Hamas disarmament, transfer of administrative authority to an independent Palestinian governing body, and Israeli military withdrawal. An International Stabilization Force was to deploy to maintain security. However, progress stalled as Israel maintained Hamas must disarm first, while Hamas accused Israel of violating the accord through continued military strikes. For Hamas, disarming constitutes a fundamental shift from its founding principles emphasizing armed resistance.
Israel has not issued official comments on the deal. Officials stated the country will not withdraw forces significantly before Hamas is fully disarmed and Gaza is demilitarized. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing reelection challenges later this year and opposition criticism over security failures, appears unlikely to make substantial concessions beforehand. Trump’s framework envisions carefully sequenced phases in which disarmament proceeds alongside Israeli force reduction, though specialists expressed skepticism about actual implementation.
The agreement specifies that Hamas-controlled police will surrender weapons to a U.S.-backed Palestinian administrative committee upon arrival in Gaza. Heavy weapons, military facilities and underground infrastructure are to be decommissioned in subsequent phases over an estimated 200 to 350 days. A member of the Palestinian committee indicated entry into Gaza would likely occur within two months but flagged concerns about Israeli impediments.
The conflict began following a October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas that killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages taken. Israel’s subsequent military campaign has resulted in more than 73,000 Palestinian deaths according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, with women and children comprising roughly half the total.
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