trump announces phased
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Trump announces phased Hamas disarmament, gradual Israeli withdrawal

US President Donald Trump has announced that an agreement has been reached for the phased disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, alongside a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces under a broader peace framework.

According to Trump, the deal was brokered through the Gaza Board of Peace after months of negotiations involving international mediators. He described the agreement as a major step toward improving security in Gaza and creating conditions for a future Palestinian civilian administration.

Under the proposed plan, Hamas and other armed factions would surrender their weapons in stages while Israeli troops withdraw gradually from areas under their control. The process would be monitored by an international verification mechanism to ensure both sides comply with their commitments.

The agreement calls for a complete inventory of weapons to begin within two weeks. Heavy weapons, military facilities, weapons depots and tunnel networks would be addressed during the initial phase of the disarmament process.

A Palestinian National Committee would oversee the collection and storage of weapons, becoming the only Palestinian body authorised to control arms in Gaza. The plan also states that no weapons collected under the agreement would be transferred to Israel or any other non-Palestinian party.

Implementation of the agreement would be supervised by an international verification commission, supported by an international stabilisation force and a newly established Palestinian police force. Israeli military withdrawals would take place in phases, linked to progress in the disarmament process.

A member of the Hamas delegation said the group’s implementation of the agreement would depend on Israel fulfilling its own obligations under the deal.

Meanwhile, Egypt is expected to host a high-level meeting involving mediators from the United States, Qatar and Türkiye to discuss the next stage of the ceasefire roadmap and oversee implementation of the agreement.

If successfully implemented, the framework is expected to pave the way for humanitarian recovery, reconstruction efforts and the establishment of a Palestinian-led administration in Gaza. However, analysts say the agreement’s success will ultimately depend on both sides fully honouring their commitments during the implementation process.

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