Trump announces Board of Peace agreement for complete disarmament of Hamas in Gaza

Trump's announcement

On Thursday night, US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that his "Board of Peace" had reached an agreement for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza. He described the deal as a "major milestone" in implementing his 20-Point Plan to end the war.

Today, the Board of Peace reached a HISTORIC agreement for the COMPLETE DISARMAMENT of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza. This is a monumental step toward lasting PEACE and SECURITY.

Trump said the agreement would be carried out in carefully structured phases, with Israeli forces withdrawing as disarmament is completed. He thanked mediators Egypt, Qatar and Turkey for making the breakthrough possible.

Phased disarmament and withdrawal

The plan envisions a sequential process: Hamas and other militant groups disarm, Israeli troops pull back, and an International Stabilization Force (ISF) works with a new Palestinian police force to secure the enclave. Trump framed it as a critical step toward Gaza being governed by a new Palestinian administration that would cooperate 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. At the same time, Israel will have the security it deserves.

The disarmament of Hamas has been a central sticking point in negotiations. Israel, which controls more than 60% of Gaza, had demanded full disarmament before any progress on the roadmap. Previously, Hamas had indicated willingness to hand over civil administration but not weapons.

Reactions and next steps

There was no immediate official confirmation from Hamas or Israel. A Hamas source told AFP earlier on Thursday that there was "broad convergence" on several weapons-related points, and that the group had submitted amendments to the US-proposed roadmap, awaiting Israel's response. An Israeli official, however, told Reuters that the proposed terms were not satisfactory. DW reported that negotiators in Cairo had agreed on a 15-point roadmap on disarmament, though amendments were still being made.

Cairo is set to host a meeting "soon" of mediators, the US, Qatar, Turkey and Egypt, to discuss implementing the second phase of the ceasefire, according to state-linked Al-Qahera News. The second phase, under Trump's 20-point plan, includes disarmament, gradual Israeli withdrawal, and the deployment of the ISF. Trump's announcement came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned from a visit to the US, where he met with Trump at the White House.

The Board of Peace and the 20-Point Plan

The Board of Peace is a Trump-created international initiative that oversees his 20-point plan for Gaza. Trump is its lifetime chairman. The body is controversial because it operates outside existing international frameworks, and its composition is seen by critics as insufficiently balanced. The Netherlands and other Western European countries are not members.

Under the plan, a group of Palestinian technocrats, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), is to receive weapons and manage daily life during the transition. The NCAG is currently based in Egypt and has been prevented by Israel from entering Gaza, according to Egyptian and Palestinian media.

Violence continues

Despite the ceasefire in place since October, violence has persisted. Israeli strikes killed at least four to six Palestinians on Thursday, including two children, according to health officials and medics. The strikes came as diplomatic efforts intensified.