Trump Says Gaza Deal Reached For Hamas’ Disarmament. 6 Hurdles That Could Still Derail It
Trump Says Gaza Deal Reached For Hamas’ Disarmament. 6 Hurdles That Could Still Derail It Published By, Last Updated: July 31, 2026, 09:48 IST A
Trump Says Gaza Deal Reached For Hamas’ Disarmament. 6 Hurdles That Could Still Derail It Published By, Last Updated: July 31, 2026, 09:48 IST A fresh push has revived the stalled Gaza ceasefire process, but the deal still faces serious obstacles before it can take effect. Rapid Read US President Donald Trump (Source: Reuters) US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced what he described as a breakthrough agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, alongside a phased Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian territory. The proposal seeks to unlock the second phase of the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire, which has remained stalled over the same unresolved questions: whether Hamas will disarm, when Israel will withdraw and who will govern Gaza afterwards. What Exactly Has Trump Announced? Trump said that his “Board of Peace" had reached an agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. In a post on Truth Social, he described it as a “major milestone in the implementation of the Trump 20-Point Plan". “The agreement will be carried out in carefully structured phases," Trump said. “As disarmament is completed, Israeli forces will withdraw, and the International Stabilization Force will work with a new Palestinian police force to take responsibility for Gaza being safe for its residents and its neighbors." Trump said the plan would lead to Gaza being governed by a new Palestinian administration working with the Board of Peace. “This agreement is a critical step towards Gaza finally being governed by a new Palestinian government that will work closely with the Board of Peace to help the Palestinian people," he said. “At the same time, Israel will have the security it deserves," Trump added. He thanked Egypt, Qatar and Turkey for their role in the negotiations. Why Is Hamas Back In Focus Now? The US-brokered Gaza ceasefire was signed nine months ago, but negotiations over its second phase had remained largely deadlocked.
The issue returned to the forefront last week after Israel’s security cabinet approved the legal framework for the proposed International Stabilization Force to enter Gaza, one of the key elements of Trump’s wider peace plan. The decision came just before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to Washington for talks with Trump, while mediators were also holding discussions with Hamas leaders in Cairo. Biggest Hurdles That Could Still Derail The Plan Hurdle 1: Israel Has Yet To Sign Off While a senior Hamas official has told the BBC that the group has agreed to the disarmament plan and will issue a formal statement soon, Israel has not publicly endorsed the latest agreement. An Israeli official told Reuters that the proposed terms were not satisfactory, leaving uncertainty over whether Israel will accept the phased roadmap announced by Trump. Hurdle 2: Hamas’ Main Arsenal Is Not Part Of The Initial Handover US and Board of Peace officials gave no specific deadline for the full disarmament of Hamas or other armed groups, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Officials told the Associated Press that Gaza’s police force was expected to hand over weapons to the new Board of Peace-backed administration within two weeks. But that would not amount to the disarmament of Hamas. The Gaza police force does not include most Hamas fighters, and heavy weaponry is not covered by the initial handover, according to the officials. The surrender of rockets, anti-tank missiles and other heavy weapons would come later. The same applies to the dismantling of Hamas’ tunnels and other military infrastructure. A Board of Peace official said that process could take between 200 and 350 days. That long window could create repeated disputes over compliance and delay the Israeli withdrawal tied to it. Hurdle 3: Israel May Dispute Whether Hamas Has Fully Complied Trump’s plan links Israeli withdrawal directly to the progress of disarmament. That sequencing could itself become a source of conflict.
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