Hamas has reportedly agreed to a framework for its complete disarmament in Gaza, a development hailed by US President Donald Trump as a significant move toward peace and stability in the region. The announcement, made on social media Friday, described the deal as a carefully structured, phased process that would see Hamas and other armed groups relinquish their weapons, followed by an Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza.

President Trump characterized the agreement as a "monumental step" in ending the conflict that erupted in October 2023, when Hamas attacks killed approximately 1,200 people. Since then, the Gaza War has resulted in over 70,000 casualties in the Palestinian territory. Trump asserted that an International Stabilisation Force would collaborate with a new Palestinian police force to maintain security for Gaza’s residents and neighboring populations as disarmament proceeds.

Hamas leadership also confirmed reaching an agreement on disarmament as part of a broader ceasefire framework with Israel. Senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad referred to it as a “comprehensive framework” entailing disarmament and mutual withdrawal. However, Hamas has conditioned compliance on Israel halting military operations within Gaza and withdrawing troops from the territory.

Israeli officials expressed skepticism about the announcement. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir dismissed the deal as unacceptable without a prior Hamas disarmament, emphasizing concerns that ceasing targeted actions against militant leaders could enable Hamas to regroup and pose further threats. Israeli government representatives did not immediately respond to the detailed claims but have consistently maintained that disarmament must precede any withdrawal of Israeli forces.

The announcement comes nearly nine months after a US-brokered ceasefire was signed, with negotiations stalled for much of that period. Britain’s Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband acknowledged the ongoing diplomatic efforts, thanking the United States for its role in facilitating progress.

Despite the declaration of the agreement, violence continued on the ground. Reports of Israeli airstrikes shortly after the announcement indicated that conditions remained volatile, underscoring challenges ahead in implementing any ceasefire or disarmament arrangement.

The emerging framework lays out a potential path toward ending the protracted Gaza conflict by establishing new security arrangements and transferring governance to a revamped Palestinian authority. However, significant hurdles remain, including mutual distrust, verification mechanisms, and the sequencing of disarmament and military withdrawal, which both parties appear to view differently at this stage.