Politics

Trump says Board of Peace has reached agreement for disarmament of Hamas

Israel and Hamas have yet to comment on the announcement.

President Donald Trump announced that the Board of Peace has secured an accord for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas and other armed factions in Gaza. He characterized this as "a critical step towards Gaza finally being governed by a new Palestinian government."

The involvement of Hamas and Israel in this agreement remains unconfirmed, as neither party has issued a statement regarding Trump's announcement.

Trump stated that Israel would pull its forces out of Gaza "as disarmament is completed."

The disarmament of Hamas and the subsequent reconstruction of Gaza constitute the second phase of a US-brokered ceasefire initiative for the region.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump declared: "This is a major milestone in the implementation of the Trump 20-Point Plan. The agreement will be carried out in carefully structured phases. 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."

Earlier this year, in April, Hamas rejected a disarmament proposal put forth by a key figure in Trump's Gaza peace endeavors, a senior Palestinian official with knowledge of the negotiations informed the BBC.

The BBC previously reported that the Board of Peace was initially understood to be focused on facilitating an end to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and overseeing its reconstruction. However, its proposed charter makes no mention of the Palestinian territory and appears structured to assume responsibilities typically held by the UN.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas spearheaded an assault on Israel, resulting in 1,200 fatalities and 251 individuals being taken captive.

In response, Israel initiated a large-scale military operation in Gaza. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory, this campaign has led to the deaths of over 73,290 people, including 21,280 children.

This developing news story is being continuously updated, and further details will be released shortly. Please refresh the page for the most current information.

Breaking News alerts are available on smartphones or tablets through the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X for the latest updates.

Related reports indicate Israel is constructing new land barriers in Gaza and displacing families, while Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed 12, including a family of six, according to medics.

gazatrumphamas disarmamentisrael withdrawalboard of peacetrump 20-point planceasefire planpalestinian government