Former President Donald Trump announced on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at 9:25 PM EDT that Hamas has agreed to the final text of a peace deal aimed at achieving the complete disarmament of the organization and other armed groups in Gaza. Trump described the agreement, negotiated with a "Board of Peace," as a "HISTORIC agreement for the COMPLETE DISARMAMENT of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza," and a "monumental step toward lasting PEACE and SECURITY." The exact timetable for the disarmament process remains unclear.
Hamas communicated its agreement to the plan, which includes decommissioning their weapons, through mediators, according to U.S. and Board of Peace officials. A senior Hamas official also confirmed the group's agreement to the disarmament plan to BBC News. Israel has not yet publicly commented on the announcement.
Under the proposed plan, Israeli forces would withdraw from parts of Gaza as disarmament progresses. Security responsibilities would then fall to an International Stabilization Force and a new Palestinian police force. Trump stated that this agreement is a critical step towards Gaza being governed by a new Palestinian government that will collaborate with the Board of Peace to assist the Palestinian people, while ensuring Israel's security and preventing Gaza from being used as a base for terror attacks.
The negotiations are rooted in a 20-point peace proposal Trump put forward last fall to end the conflict that began with Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. That attack resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the taking of about 250 hostages. Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza has led to over 73,000 deaths, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.
Trump's initial framework included the release of hostages, a ceasefire, increased aid distribution in Gaza, and eventual Israeli withdrawal as Hamas disarmed. It also envisioned an International Stabilization Force for temporary security oversight and a Palestinian-led "technocratic" committee for governance.
Negotiators previously divided this framework into two phases. The first phase, involving hostage release and a ceasefire, was implemented in October. However, issues like Hamas's arms decommissioning and Israel's military redeployment were deferred. Sporadic Israeli strikes and militant attacks have continued since then.
U.S. and Board of Peace officials indicated that the newly agreed-upon roadmap will serve as a framework to be refined in the coming weeks. They acknowledged the lengthy negotiation period, citing the complexity of the issue. Officials anticipate potential implementation progress within the next one to two months, noting that the proposal is based on a lack of trust between Israel and Hamas, with all aspects of the roadmap being conditional.
The plan establishes a transitional authority, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, which would hold a monopoly on weapons in the Gaza Strip. Hamas would need to relinquish any involvement in governance. This committee was formed under the auspices of the Board of Peace, a Trump-backed entity chartered earlier this year with support from Israel and several Middle Eastern nations.
The initial phase of disarmament is expected to involve police weapons, with a new police authority taking control, recruiting new officers, and vetting current ones. Following confirmation of parties upholding commitments, a process for decommissioning heavy weapons, depots, and tunnels will commence. Personal weapons will be addressed under Palestinian legislation. The plan also outlines a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, with a finalized timetable still pending.
Earlier this month, a Hamas official announced the dissolution of its government to allow the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza to assume control. However, Israeli Defense Minister Gideon Sa'ar dismissed this move as a "trick," emphasizing that Hamas must disarm. He stated that as long as Hamas retains its weapons, any civilian government would operate under Hamas's direction, enabling them to continue oppressing Palestinians and pursuing their war against Israel.
