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Disarmament vs Withdrawal
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the Peace Council had reached a historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, and said Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza "as disarmament is completed."
“the Peace Council (created for the reconstruction of Gaza) has reached a historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas”
Senior Hamas officials confirmed an agreement was found "concerning the weapons issue" and "a gradual withdrawal" of Israeli forces from Gaza, as the second phase of the ceasefire came into effect last October.
The deal is tied to the Board of Peace framework, with Hamas saying weapons must be handed over to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), while an Egyptian official said the NCAG cannot access the Gaza Strip.
In parallel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed, and he said his government did not approve a U.S. draft and sent comments back to Washington.
The dispute over sequencing—disarmament first or withdrawal first—remains central as Hamas asked for clarifications from the Peace Council and Qatar blamed Israel for delaying implementation of Trump's plan.
Reactions and Deadlock
Israel’s position on the disarmament deal was echoed by Doron Spielman, who told The Associated Press that Israel has "serious security concerns" and that its intelligence assessment is that Hamas remains committed to rebuilding its military rather than genuinely demilitarizing.
Spielman also said "Our assessment is that if we redeploy before Hamas is truly disarmed," Israel would face a rapid expansion of Hamas’s presence and a renewed threat to Israeli communities.
Hamas negotiator Ghazi Hamad told Al Jazeera that the Palestinian group would not implement the deal unless Israel fulfilled its obligations, including halting attacks and withdrawing troops, and he said Israel must commit to implementing the agreement and not delay or obstruct.
The Board of Peace, established by Trump, said in a social media post that the withdrawal beyond the Yellow Line will take place only once decommissioning is complete, as Hamas committed to the mediators.
While Trump said Israel was "very happy" with the deal, Al Jazeera reported that Israeli politicians and the Israeli press met the terms for withdrawal and power transfer with a frosty reception.
What Comes Next
As the roadmap language crystallizes, the Board of Peace said it would require complete decommissioning before any Israeli withdrawal beyond the Yellow Line, and it described the goal as a transition from "rule by the gun to civilian governance."
“the withdrawal of the [Israeli military] beyond the Yellow Line will take place only once decommissioning is complete”
Hamas insisted that it would not implement disarmament measures until Israel first fulfills its obligations, and it said the National Committee would be the body that handles the file for weapon enumeration and storage.
The agreement’s implementation is described as phased, with Trump saying the International Stabilization Force would work alongside a new Palestinian police force, while the National Committee would take over responsibilities during the transition period.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported that Israeli attacks continued after the disarmament announcement, with strikes hitting families in their homes in Gaza City’s al-Sousi Tower and in al-Qarara near Khan Younis.
The stakes are reflected in the continuing humanitarian and security conditions described by Al Jazeera, including a July death toll of 152 people killed and a cumulative toll since the October 2025 ceasefire reaching 1,250 killed and more than 4,100 wounded by August 3.
