Trump Announces Disarmament Agreement with Hamas; Details Emerge on Phased Plan
US President Donald Trump on Thursday (July 30, 2026) announced an agreement for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas, calling it a critical step toward a new Palestinian government in Gaza. The announcement was made on his Truth Social platform, where he described the deal as "historic" and said disarmament would take place in "carefully structured phases."
There was no immediate statement from Hamas confirming the agreement. However, sources familiar with ongoing talks in Cairo told AFP that the Palestinian Islamist movement was progressing toward a deal involving the decommissioning of its weapons.
Trump wrote: "Today, the Board of Peace reached a HISTORIC agreement for the COMPLETE DISARMAMENT of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza. This is a monumental step toward lasting PEACE and SECURITY." He added that as disarmament is completed, Israeli forces will withdraw, and an International Stabilization Force will work with a new Palestinian police force to ensure safety for residents and neighbours.
The issue of Hamas's disarmament has been a key sticking point in the ceasefire deal that has been in place between Israel and Hamas since October. Despite the ceasefire, violence has continued, with Israeli strikes killing at least four people, including two children on Thursday, according to health officials.
Cairo is set to host a meeting "soon" of Gaza truce mediators, which include the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, as reported by state-linked Al-Qahera News on Friday. The meeting will discuss implementing the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan, a roadmap that Hamas and Palestinian factions have agreed to.
Trump's 20-point peace plan for Gaza envisions the second phase involving Hamas's disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal. The plan also provides for a group of Palestinian technocrats, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), to assume governance during a transitional phase.
A Hamas source earlier told AFP that the group was still making amendments to the proposal. An Israeli political source said the proposed deal does not "satisfactorily" address Israeli demands.
A diplomatic source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the roadmap would create a process for eliminating all tunnels, weapons depots, and production facilities. "One authority, one law, one weapon," the source stated, adding that a verification mechanism would ensure compliance.
