Ghazi Hamad, a member of the Hamas negotiating team, said that Hamas will not take any action regarding disarmament prior to the complete withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza Strip.
US President Donald Trump spoke of a historic agreement in Gaza and the complete disarmament of Hamas, even as conflicting information emerges from the Palestinian organization's side. Although Hamas has not officially reacted so far to the announcements by Trump and the "Peace Council," members of the Palestinian organization speaking to Agence France-Presse confirmed that a deal exists, while others state that the agreement is valid and full disarmament will take place provided Israel withdraws from the Gaza Strip and reconstruction begins. However, in his message, Trump maintained that Hamas will disarm first and then Israel will leave, a parameter that could potentially lead to another cycle of confrontation.
Ghazi Hamad (Hamas): Disarmament only if Israel leaves Gaza first
According to the Iranian news agency Tasnim, Ghazi Hamad, a member of the Hamas negotiating team, told Al Jazeera that the organization remains committed to its national objectives, including safeguarding the rights of the Palestinian people. He added that the negotiations were difficult and demanding and that Hamas sought to reach the best possible and most realistic agreement. Ghazi Hamad also stated that the issue of weaponry is linked to other matters, such as the withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza Strip and the reconstruction of the region. He emphasized that Israel will have no involvement in the disarmament process and that a national Palestinian committee will assume responsibility. Furthermore, he stressed that Hamas will not take any action regarding disarmament prior to the complete withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza Strip. He added that if Israeli forces fail to uphold their commitments under the agreement, Hamas will likewise not implement its own obligations. Finally, Ghazi Hamad expressed his gratitude to Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey "for their efforts to achieve this agreement."
The negotiations
Negotiations were conducted for weeks in Egypt, with the primary goal of advancing the implementation of the so-called second phase following the fragile truce between Israel and Hamas, which took effect on October 10, 2025, to permanently end the war in the Gaza Strip. The American plan provided in its second phase for the disarmament of Hamas, the progressive withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from Gaza, and the deployment of what has been named the International Stabilization Force (ISF).
Trump's announcement
"Today, the Peace Council," a body established by Donald Trump himself, "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," Trump stated via Truth Social. He further assured that the Israeli military will "withdraw" as soon as the disarmament of the Palestinian Islamist movement and the remaining armed factions is completed. "Once disarmament is complete, Israeli forces will withdraw and the International Stabilization Force will work alongside a new Palestinian police force to guarantee security in Gaza for its residents and its neighbors," Trump emphasized.
Conflicting reports
Nevertheless, by Thursday evening, Hamas had not confirmed the agreement, while the Palestinian movement Islamic Jihad, another armed Palestinian organization in Gaza, stated earlier today, Friday 31/7, that reports of an agreement were "inaccurate." The organization had also participated in the truce alongside Hamas. An official from the Peace Council stated that Hamas and other armed groups would gradually surrender their weapons to the committee, with police weapons handed over first and members' personal firearms surrendered last. However, a Hamas source told Agence France-Presse that there was "broad convergence" on various points regarding disarmament, adding that amendments to the roadmap proposed by Washington had been transmitted to mediators and that a response from Israel was awaited.
A critical step
The disarmament of Hamas represents a critical step for the implementation of Donald Trump's multi-phase peace plan to end the war in Gaza and establish a technocratic Palestinian government in the area. Mediators have been negotiating with Hamas for months to implement the plan, yet strong skepticism persists in the region regarding whether the organization will honor its commitments. "If this is implemented, if the collected weapons are turned over, and demilitarization is completed, then the transitional authority will assume control. Hamas will exit government and governance, a fact that will reignite the prospect of a political solution for the Palestinian people," the official stated.
Where Hamas weapons will go
Egypt is set to host a meeting of mediators "soon" regarding the so-called Phase 2 of the Gaza truce, a group that also includes Qatar, Turkey, and the US. According to a diplomatic source familiar with the contents of the negotiations, the weaponry of the Palestinian factions is expected to be surrendered to the National Committee for Gaza Governance (NCGG), a body of Palestinian technocrats expected to manage, for a transitional period, daily affairs in the Gaza Strip. The operation is expected to be conducted in coordination with the International Stabilization Force, which, however, has not yet been formed. The NCGG, currently based in Egypt, is being blocked by Israel from accessing the Gaza Strip, according to Egyptian and Palestinian media.
For the first time, Hamas formally commits
"For the first time, Hamas formally commits to a viable plan for the surrender of all its weapons, which will be followed by the withdrawal of the Israeli military from Gaza. This agreement promises substantial benefits for the people of Gaza, who have waited a long time for a better future, as well as security for Israel," the Peace Council stated in a post on the X platform following Donald Trump's announcement. Donald Trump stated that the agreement will pave the way for Gaza to be governed by "a new Palestinian government" that will cooperate with the Peace Council, while "Israel will enjoy the security it deserves, with Gaza no longer being used as a base for terrorist attacks."
Phased implementation of the agreement
The US president maintained that the implementation of the agreement will take place in phases. As armed organizations disarm, Israeli forces will withdraw from Gaza, and an International Stabilization Force, in cooperation with a new Palestinian police force, will assume responsibility for security in the region. US officials and members of the Peace Council stated that the agreement is the result of months of "extremely delicate negotiations," which led to a "major breakthrough" and a shared understanding regarding the required steps. At the same time, they emphasized that it remains a "conditional agreement."
The threat from Gaza will not re-emerge
In his post, Donald Trump thanked mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, as well as his administration, for their contribution to reaching the agreement. "The threat that originated from Gaza on October 7 will not be permitted to re-emerge!" Donald Trump wrote, adding that "under this agreement, Gaza will finally be in the hands of a new Palestinian government that will serve its people." "Congratulations to everyone on this amazing development, which everyone said could never be achieved!" Donald Trump concluded. Officials clarified that implementing the agreement will require time, while detailed terms are expected to be published within two weeks. The transition from one phase to the next will occur only after verified completion of the previous phase, which will be approved by a special agreement verification committee.
Holding over 60% of Gaza
Israel, whose military currently holds over 60% of Gaza, demands the complete disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian armed factions before consenting to move forward with the roadmap, or the "20-point plan," of the US president. Hamas announced in early July the dissolution of the committee that had managed political affairs in the Gaza Strip since 2007, when it took power in the small coastal enclave, and indicated that it intended to transfer its responsibilities to the NCGG. While the NCGG is presented as a temporary body, European and Arab officials insist on the need for a broader political framework involving pre-existing Palestinian governance institutions. Israel, which opposes the continuation or return of Hamas to power, rejects at this stage the prospect of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority directly assuming control in Gaza.
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