A Palestinian rides his bicycle through rubble in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo: AP)
Hamas has announced that it has agreed in principle to a draft roadmap for the phased disarmament of armed groups in Gaza, marking what could be a significant development in efforts to end the conflict. However, major questions remain over implementation and Israel has yet to officially comment.
The announcement came after talks in Cairo on Thursday involving Hamas leaders and mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye. The discussions focused on the second phase of US President Donald Trump's Gaza initiative, which is being overseen by the so-called Board of Peace.
President Donald Trump signs the charter of his Board of Peace initiative in Davos, in January. (Photo: AP)
Trump later hailed the outcome as a breakthrough, declaring on social media that negotiators had reached a "historic agreement" for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed factions in Gaza.
"Today, the Board of Peace reached a HISTORIC agreement for the COMPLETE DISARMAMENT of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza," Trump wrote, adding that the process would take place in phases.
According to Hamas officials, however, the proposal remains a draft agreement rather than a finalized deal. A Hamas source said the plan envisages heavy weapons being placed under the control of a future Palestinian administration rather than being handed over to Israel.
Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas's negotiating team, has said that the group would not move forward with disarmament before an Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.
Palestinians salvage their belongings from the rubble of a building and tents destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Thursday, July 30, 2026. (Photo: AP)
The proposal is understood to include the dismantling of tunnels, weapons stockpiles and military production facilities, with the goal of eliminating armed infrastructure in Gaza by the end of the process. It also calls for increased humanitarian aid, governance by a civilian Palestinian administration, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the deployment of an international stabilization force.
Trump said the agreement would pave the way for Gaza to be governed by a new Palestinian administration working closely with the Board of Peace, while providing long-term security for Israel.
However, fighting has also continued on the ground. Palestinian health officials said Israeli strikes killed at least six people in Gaza on Thursday, including two children. The Israeli military said it had targeted Hamas militants.
On Friday morning, Gazan medics said several Palestinians were wounded in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza after Trump had announced the Hamas agreement.
With both sides maintaining key conditions and disagreements unresolved, it remains unclear whether the proposed roadmap can be transformed into a lasting agreement.