Hamas has broken its silence and made one big demand after Donald Trump revealed a deal had been reached for the group to disarm and Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza. A Hamas official has now said the disarmament deal reached with the US must be “implemented in stages”.
The official told Reuters Israel must begin implementing the first phase of the deal by withdrawing its forces from Gaza. This also includes the dismantling of “Israeli-backed armed militias” in Gaza. Hamas will then hand over weapons to the Palestinian National Committee for storage, dependent on Israel endorsing the agreement, the official adds. Hamas would then transfer its weapons to the Palestinian National Committee for storage, contingent on Israel approving the agreement, the official added.
Trump announced yesterday his Board of Peace has reached a “historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza”.
“The agreement will be carried out in carefully structured phases,” Trump said on Truth Social. However, Hamas official described the deal as a draft and US officials said Israel was skeptical the militant Palestinian group would surrender its weapons.
Trump said that the agreement marks a “critical step towards Gaza finally being governed by a new Palestinian government”.
He claims that in the plan Israel will gain “the security it deserves” as Gaza is set to become “safe for residents”.
On Truth Social Trump added: “One year ago there was a violent raging war, humanitarian crisis and hostages kept in brutal captivity. We have made historic progress and there is still much work to do.
“I want to thank the mediators—Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye—for their important efforts, and especially my outstanding team, whose tireless work made this historic breakthrough possible.
“The threat that emerged from Gaza on October 7 will NOT be allowed to rebuild!
“Under this agreement, Gaza will finally be in the hands of a new Palestinian government that serves its PEOPLE. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL ON THIS AMAZING DEVELOPMENT, THAT EVERYBODY SAID COULD NEVER BE ACHIEVED!”
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