Palestinians inspect the site of Wednesday's Israeli strike on a house whose residents were pre-warned by the Israeli military to evacuate, in Gaza City, July 30, 2026. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Hamas has agreed to a proposal announced by US President Donald Trump that calls for the group’s complete disarmament in Gaza, according to a senior Hamas official who spoke to the BBC. An official statement from the Palestinian group is expected, while Israel has not yet responded publicly to the reported agreement.
Trump announced the development on Thursday, describing it as “a critical step towards Gaza finally being governed by a new Palestinian government.” The proposal forms part of the second phase of a US-brokered ceasefire framework first unveiled in October last year.
If implemented, the agreement would mark the first time Hamas has publicly accepted complete disarmament, a longstanding demand by Israel and one of the biggest obstacles to previous ceasefire and peace negotiations.
Despite the reported breakthrough, significant challenges remain. The agreement is said to require Israel to withdraw from parts of Gaza, a condition that could prove contentious given Israel’s ongoing military operations and expanded control over parts of the territory.
The Israeli government has yet to issue an official response. However, when reports of progress in Cairo negotiations surfaced earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office reportedly played down expectations, suggesting no final agreement had been reached.
Political dynamics within Israel may also complicate implementation. With national elections scheduled for October, analysts note that the country’s political landscape remains largely aligned against major concessions to the Palestinians.
Erizia Rubyjeana
