US president announces agreement for total demilitarisation of Gaza, yet Jerusalem signals troops will not withdraw without concrete action.
A “zero-trust” plan for peace
US President Donald Trump has announced the achievement of a landmark agreement for the complete disarmament of the Palestinian movement Hamas and all other armed groups in the Gaza Strip. However, the Israeli side has yet to confirm its participation in the deal, with officials in Jerusalem making it clear that the IDF will remain in the enclave until full demilitarisation is enacted and no concessions will be made.
“Today the Peace Council reached a HISTORIC agreement for the COMPLETE DISARMAMENT of Hamas and all other armed groups in the Gaza Strip,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social. He described the move as “a massive step towards ensuring lasting peace and security.”
According to Trump, the agreement represents a crucial step toward a new Palestinian government running the Gaza Strip. The implementation is to be phased under a “Trump 20-point plan.” As disarmament progresses, Israeli forces would be withdrawn, and an “International Stabilisation Force” would begin operating alongside a newly formed Palestinian police force.
Hamas confirms agreement, with conditions
A senior Hamas official confirmed to the BBC that the movement agrees to complete disarmament, with a formal statement expected imminently. However, Ghazi Hamad, a member of the Hamas negotiating team, offered a vital caveat in comments to Al Jazeera: “We will not take any steps regarding disarmament until Israel leaves the sector.”
According to the “Board of Peace” Council, the proposed roadmap stipulates the removal of all types of weapons without exception, and the destruction of tunnels, depots, and weapons production facilities. The key principle of the plan is “one authority, one law, one weapon,” with full power to be transferred to a technocratic government. The timeline for disarmament is estimated at 200 to 350 days, with a detailed schedule to be prepared within a fortnight.
Israel’s red lines remain firm
Despite Trump’s optimistic pronouncements, Israel has not yet issued an official comment. Moreover, Israeli officials have indicated that the deal in its current form does not meet Jerusalem’s requirements. A political source in Israel stressed that the issue of the Gaza Strip was not discussed during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump. Israel will not withdraw its forces from the “yellow line” until Hamas is fully disarmed.
The Israeli side has conveyed its objections in a 15-point plan to the US special envoy, Tony Blair. As stated by the Prime Minister’s Office, “the 15-point document under discussion does not provide an adequate answer to these demands.” Israel insists on the complete dismantling of Hamas, the removal of weaponry from Gaza, and the full demilitarisation of the Strip as a prerequisite for any process.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Israel rejects the plan for Hamas’s disarmament and refuses to pull its troops out of Gaza until complete demilitarisation is achieved. A diplomatic source underscored: “There will be no withdrawal of Israeli troops from the “yellow line” in the Gaza Strip until Hamas is disarmed and the sector is demilitarised.”
Military operations continue amid diplomatic push
While diplomats discuss disarmament, the Israeli army continues its offensive in Gaza. According to Axios, Israel currently controls 60 per cent of the territory, surpassing the 53 per cent assumed under the ceasefire agreement, and plans to expand this control to 70 per cent. Since the ceasefire took effect in October 2025, at least 1,168 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reports that since the war began in October 2023, more than 73,290 people have been killed, including 21,280 children.
American officials acknowledge that Israel is “very sceptical” that Hamas will genuinely disarm. However, they insist the agreement is built not on trust, but on conditionality, reciprocity, and verification. “This agreement is built on zero trust,” one official stated. “Neither side will be asked to take a step until the other side’s commitments have been verified.” Should the deal be violated, Israel retains the right to resume military action.
What comes next?
Further negotiations are expected in Cairo with the participation of mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. Nevertheless, Israel’s position remains the critical factor: without the full demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip, the IDF will not leave. As the BBC noted, it is still too early to judge whether this agreement will be implemented, but it marks the first time Hamas has stated a readiness for total disarmament, which had been the most significant obstacle to peace talks. Yet Israeli scepticism and the ongoing hostilities cast a long shadow over the realism of Trump’s “historic” agreement.
