Cairo, Egypt. President Donald Trump said talks between mediators and Hamas leaders had resulted in a phased agreement to disarm Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. Hamas described the arrangement as a draft, while U.S. officials said Israel remained skeptical that the group would surrender its weapons.
Trump announcement
Trump said the Board of Peace had reached what he called a historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza.
He said the process would take place in phases and described it as a step towards lasting peace and security.
Trump said the agreement was critical to establishing a new Palestinian government in Gaza that would work closely with the Board of Peace. He added that Israel would have security with Gaza no longer used as a base for attacks.
The Israeli embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Hamas position
A Hamas source told Reuters that the draft agreement provided for heavy weapons to be stored under the control of a Palestinian administration and not transferred to Israel.
Ghazi Hamad, a member of the Hamas negotiating team, told Al Jazeera that Hamas would not take action on disarmament before Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip.
Israeli and U.S. concerns
A U.S. official told reporters that Israel was very skeptical Hamas would disarm, while adding that the United States was confident the group would comply.
The official said Trump would be very disappointed if Hamas did not adhere to the agreement.
Questions also remained over the duration of the process. A Board of Peace official estimated it could take between 200 and 320 days, although a U.S. official played down that timeline.
An Israeli official, who declined to be identified, said Israel had rejected a proposal before Trump’s announcement.