Hamas has signalled it will hand over its weapons to a new Gaza administration established under Donald Trump's Board of Peace, but a Hamas official says the arrangement depends on an Israeli withdrawal.
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Key facts
- Hamas's Ghazi Hamad told Reuters the group would hand over arms to a body set up under Trump's Board of Peace.
- Trump has claimed an agreement for the 'complete disarmament' of Hamas in Gaza, though support remains uncertain.
- The disarmament reportedly depends on an Israeli withdrawal.
- Saudi Arabia is preparing a sea and possible land offensive against the Houthis.
- Al Jazeera reported scepticism and caution among Palestinians in Gaza following the announcement.
Hamas has indicated it is prepared to hand over its weapons to a new administration for Gaza, according to a report by Reuters. The group’s Ghazi Hamad said the arms would be transferred to a body established under Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, marking a potential shift in the long-running conflict between Israel and Hamas.
However, the arrangement is conditional. According to the reporting, the handover of weapons depends on an Israeli withdrawal, tying any move toward disarmament to actions by Israel.
Trump has claimed there is an agreement for the ‘complete disarmament’ of Hamas in Gaza. Despite that claim, support for the deal remains uncertain, leaving questions over whether the announced arrangement will hold.
The reaction on the ground has been muted. Al Jazeera reporter Hani Mahmoud, writing from Gaza City in the north of the Strip, said the news was not met with any particular joy or celebration. Palestinians, he noted, have heard repeated statements about their fate in the three years since the current war began between Israel and Hamas.
‘There is scepticism and cautiousness among Palestinians,’ Mahmoud wrote, reflecting the cautious mood following the latest announcement.
In a separate development in the region, Saudi Arabia is preparing a sea and possible land offensive against the Houthis, according to the live coverage of the wider Middle East crisis.
Why it matters
A potential Hamas disarmament and the creation of a new Gaza administration could reshape the trajectory of a war that has run for roughly three years. But with the deal tied to an Israeli withdrawal and its wider support uncertain, the outcome remains far from settled for the people of Gaza.
Frequently asked questions
What has Hamas agreed to do with its weapons?
According to Reuters, Hamas's Ghazi Hamad said the group would hand over its arms to a body established under Trump's Board of Peace, though the handover depends on an Israeli withdrawal.
What has Trump claimed about the deal?
Trump has claimed there is an agreement for the 'complete disarmament' of Hamas in Gaza, but support for the deal remains uncertain.
How have Palestinians reacted?
Al Jazeera reporter Hani Mahmoud reported scepticism and cautiousness among Palestinians in Gaza, noting the announcement was not met with joy or celebration.
Timeline
- Middle East crisis live: Hamas will hand over weapons to new Gaza administration, says official, but deal depends on Israeli withdrawal
The Guardian World: Hamas’s Ghazi Hamad tells Reuters that it will hand over arms to body established by Trump’s Board of Peace Trump claims agreement for ‘complete disarmament’ of Hamas in Gaza but support uncertain Saudi Arabia prepares sea and possible land offensive against Houthis Al Jazeera re