U.S. President Donald Trump announced Thursday that talks in Cairo between Hamas leaders and mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey produced a draft agreement for the phased disarmament of Gaza’s armed groups.
Details of the draft deal
According to a Hamas source cited by the report, the draft stipulates that heavy weapons would be stored under the control of a Palestinian administration and could not be transferred to Israel. Hamas negotiator Ghazi Hamad told the outlet that no disarmament steps will be taken until Israeli forces withdraw from the Strip.
U.S. officials said Israel remains skeptical that the group will follow through. One official told reporters, “We’re very confident they will adhere to it,” adding that President Trump would be “very, very disappointed” if the plan fails.
The Board of Peace, a body created by Trump to oversee a Gaza reconstruction plan, gave an estimated timeline of 200 to 320 days for the process, though a U.S. official downplayed that range.
Israeli response and lingering doubts
An unnamed Israeli official said earlier on Thursday that Israel had rejected the 15‑point document because it does not meet the demand for complete disarmament and removal of weapons from Gaza. “Israel demands the complete disarmament of Hamas, including the removal of weapons from Gaza and the complete demilitarisation of the Strip as a precondition for any process,” the official said.
Related: Hong Kong developer Parkview defaults on loan payment
Israeli strikes on Thursday killed at least six Palestinians, including two children, according to medics.
Trump’s board envisions a Gaza rebuilt under a civilian Palestinian administration, a surge in humanitarian aid, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the deployment of an international security force.
On the ground, the situation remains far from those objectives. Hamas continues to demand an end to Israeli attacks and a full withdrawal of troops.
From a broader perspective, the draft agreement reflects ongoing attempts by external actors to broker a cease‑fire and a political framework that could reduce the chronic cycle of violence. However, the divergent conditions set by both sides suggest that implementation will be fraught with challenges.
No official comment has been received from the Israeli embassy in Washington regarding the president’s announcement.