Hamas Agrees to Lay Down Its Weapons in Landmark Gaza Peace Deal

A Historic Shift — With Major Caveats

For years, the idea of Hamas voluntarily giving up its weapons seemed almost unthinkable. The group's founding charter enshrines armed resistance as a core principle, and its arsenal of rockets, anti-tank missiles, and explosives has long been treated as the very backbone of its identity. But on July 31, that calculus appeared to change dramatically. Hamas announced it had reached an agreement to disarm — a significant move that could help end the war in Gaza, but one that will face many hurdles and could take a long time to achieve, if at all.

The agreement was announced late on Thursday by U.S. President Donald Trump, after the US-led Board of Peace and International Stabilization Force for Gaza announced that mediators from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the U.S. had finalized a roadmap for the next phase of the ceasefire. Trump wasted no time in trumpeting the news. He heralded the deal as "a historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza" and "a monumental step toward lasting peace and security."

What the Deal Actually Requires

The group agreed to a road map as long as Israel also makes concessions, including ending hostilities and withdrawing its troops from Palestinian territory. The mechanics of disarmament are layered and sequential. A copy of the agreement verified by the Associated Press said that all police weapons will be transferred to the U.S.-backed Palestinian technocratic committee, known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, upon its arrival in the enclave. Heavier weapons would follow in later stages.

An international verification commission, an International Stabilization Force, and a new Palestinian police force will oversee disarmament as Israeli troops incrementally withdraw. The inventory and storage process will initially target heavy weaponry, military production sites, weapons depots, and the extensive tunnel network. Al Jazeera obtained a copy of the agreement, which stipulates that the precise disarmament roadmap must be prepared within 14 days, with possible extensions subject to the approval of an international verification body and the agreement of all parties. The full disarmament process is estimated to take between 200 and 350 days.

Israel's Silence and the Skeptics

Israel has not publicly agreed to the latest proposal, and Hamas has said it will not implement any part of the deal unless Israeli forces fulfill their own obligations to withdraw from Gaza. That silence carries weight. Israeli officials have previously insisted they would not pull back until Hamas is fully stripped of its military capacity — creating a classic standoff where each side demands the other move first.

Negotiations between Israel and Hamas over the implementation of the next phase of the ceasefire deal had largely deadlocked — and disarmament was a major sticking point. Disarming would represent a sea change for Hamas, whose founding charter calls for armed resistance against Israel, and which sees its arsenal as lying at the heart of its identity. The backdrop of continued violence adds to the skepticism. Since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire supposedly came into effect on October 10, 2025, Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,100 Palestinians. Israel has also continued to restrict humanitarian aid from entering Gaza and expanded its so-called "Yellow Line" further into the Strip.

A Long Road to Peace

Egypt is expected to host representatives from the U.S., Qatar, and Turkey for further talks aimed at ensuring compliance during this second phase. Asked about the timing of Hamas' disarmament, a U.S. official noted the complexity of the issue and the importance of getting it right rather than sticking to a strict timeline, adding: "I think over the next couple weeks we'll continue to refine the details of everything, and I think we can see progress in the next month or two."

The deal, if it holds, would be one of the most consequential developments in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But the gap between a signed roadmap and actual peace on the ground remains vast. Whether Israel formally endorses the agreement and whether Hamas follows through on commitments that cut against its very founding principles will determine whether this moment becomes a genuine turning point — or another chapter in a cycle of broken promises and resumed fighting.