The deal at a glance
US President Donald Trump announced Thursday an agreement for Hamas to disarm in stages as part of a peace plan for Gaza. In return, Israel would withdraw its troops from the strip. The deal builds on a US-brokered ceasefire that was signed last year.
Under the plan, Hamas will hand over weapons step by step. The Israeli military will pull back in phases. The White House has also shared a roadmap to demilitarize Gaza, laying out how security would be transferred and who would manage the territory after the withdrawal. Officials describe the roadmap as the most detailed plan for the strip since the war began.
What happens next
Implementation is now the main question. Officials in Washington say the first phase could begin within weeks, but they admit the timeline depends on both sides keeping their promises. Israel has said it wants guarantees that disarmament is complete before any full withdrawal. Hamas has not yet issued a formal public response to the details of the phased plan.
Regional mediators, including Egypt and Qatar, helped shape the arrangement. The United Nations has called on both parties to protect civilians during the transition and to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza without delays. Aid groups say food, medicine, and building materials are urgently needed as families return to damaged neighborhoods.
Skeptics and open questions
Analysts warn that past ceasefires in Gaza have collapsed under the weight of small disputes. They point to unresolved issues such as the status of weapons held by smaller armed groups, the control of border crossings, and the rebuilding of homes and hospitals destroyed in the conflict.
Some experts say the plan is a useful starting point but not a finished settlement. They note that a lasting peace will also require a political agreement on the future governance of Gaza, something the current deal does not fully address. The coming weeks will show whether the phased approach can hold, and whether both sides can turn a signed plan into a stable peace.