Hamas said on Friday that it has agreed to a phased plan to give up its weapons as part of a proposed Gaza ceasefire framework, a development that could help end the war if Israel also meets key conditions, including stopping its military operations and withdrawing troops from the Palestinian territory.
Hamas senior official Bassem Naim confirmed the group’s position in a post on X.
A Hamas official and a regional official told media that the group’s commitment to disarm would depend on Israel making reciprocal concessions under the agreement, reports AP.
Israel has yet to comment on the proposal, which was announced earlier by US President Donald Trump, roughly nine months after a US-mediated 20-point ceasefire plan was signed.
The roadmap includes Hamas handing over its weapons, dismantling its tunnel network and facilitating the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
It also proposes the creation of a new Palestinian technocratic government, deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF), and the start of reconstruction efforts in the territory.
As part of the plan, weapons held by Gaza’s police would be transferred to the US-backed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.
The dismantling of heavy weapons and tunnels would take place gradually in phases linked to Israel’s withdrawal.
Israel has repeatedly said it will not pull out from areas it controls until Hamas is completely disarmed.
The agreement is being backed by mediators from the United States, Turkey, Egypt and Qatar, although Israel is not a signatory.
Officials estimate that the disarmament process could take between 200 and 350 days.
The Gaza war began after Hamas’s 7 October, 2023 attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people.
Gaza’s Health Ministry says Israel’s subsequent offensive has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians.
