Donald Trump announced on Thursday (July 30) that the “Peace Council” — a body he personally established — had reached a “historic agreement” calling for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed organizations in the Gaza Strip. According to Trump, this represents a key pillar of the plan bearing his name, which could theoretically pave the way for a “lasting” peace in the Palestinian enclave. Two Hamas officials confirmed to Agence France-Presse (AFP), on condition of anonymity, that an agreement had been reached.
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Trump announces “historic deal” for full Hamas disarmament
It is worth recalling that weeks of negotiations had been underway in Egypt to advance the implementation of the so-called second phase following the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which took effect on October 10, 2025, with the aim of permanently ending the war in the Gaza Strip. The American plan envisioned, in its second phase, the disarmament of Hamas, the gradual withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from the enclave, and the deployment of what has been dubbed the International Stabilization Force (ISF).
“Today, the Peace Council” — a body created by Donald Trump himself — “reached a historic agreement for the full disarmament of Hamas and all other armed organizations in Gaza. This is a monumental step toward lasting peace and security,” the US president wrote on Truth Social. He further assured that Israeli forces would “withdraw” once the disarmament of the Palestinian Islamist movement and other armed factions is complete.
“Once disarmament is complete, Israeli forces will withdraw and the International Stabilization Force will work with a new Palestinian police force to guarantee security in Gaza for its residents and its neighbors,” according to the US president.
“Broad convergence”
The ISF is a body in the process of being established, expected to include military personnel from various countries and to operate under the auspices of the Peace Council. An AFP source within Hamas noted earlier that there was “broad convergence” on several points regarding disarmament, adding that amendments to the roadmap proposed by Washington had been conveyed to the mediators and that Israel’s response was awaited.
Cairo is expected to host “soon” a meeting of mediators on the so-called Phase 2 of the Gaza ceasefire — a group that includes, beyond Egypt itself, Qatar, Turkey, and the United States — according to Al Qahera News, a network considered to have close ties to Egyptian state services.
According to a diplomatic source familiar with the content of the negotiations, the weapons held by Palestinian factions are expected to be handed over to the Gaza National Governance Committee (GNGC), a body of Palestinian technocrats that is expected to manage the day-to-day affairs of the Gaza Strip during a transitional period.
The operation is expected to be carried out in coordination with the ISF. The GNGC, currently based in Egypt, is being blocked by Israel from accessing the Gaza Strip, according to Egyptian and Palestinian media.
Transfer of responsibilities
Israel, whose military currently controls more than 60% of the Palestinian enclave, is demanding the complete disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian armed factions before agreeing to move forward with the roadmap — also known as the “20-point plan” — of the American president.
Hamas announced in early July the dissolution of the committee that had managed political affairs in the Gaza Strip since 2007, when it seized power in the small coastal territory, and stated its intention to transfer its responsibilities to the GNGC. While the GNGC is presented as a temporary body, European and Arab officials continue to stress the need for a broader political horizon that includes the participation of pre-existing Palestinian institutions.
Israel, which opposes Hamas remaining in or returning to power, has so far rejected the possibility of the Palestinian Authority, based in Ramallah, directly assuming control of Gaza. Egypt has played the role of mediator between Palestinian armed organizations and Israel for decades. Cairo has a peace agreement with the Jewish state.
The unprecedented Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, triggered the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, in which more than 73,300 people have been killed, according to the health ministry of Hamas’s governing authority — figures deemed reliable by the United Nations.
Despite the ceasefire, violence in the Gaza Strip continues — Israeli strikes killed at least four people in the enclave on Thursday, according to local health authorities. The population remains mired in a humanitarian crisis.
