Will Hamas Disarm? Trump Thinks So, Netanyahu Not So Sure

A key part of President Donald Trump’s comprehensive 20-point peace plan for Gaza was the establishment of the Board of Peace. It appears the international organization has made progress. Trump announced a breakthrough in the negotiations with the terrorist group Hamas on July 30. In what is being called a “landmark agreement,” Hamas and other armed Palestinian factions in Gaza have agreed to complete disarmament.

Hamas Agrees to Disarm

When the Board of Peace was first announced on Jan. 22, the expectations for the group were to establish stability, restore a lawful government, and obtain a lasting peace. If the agreement with Hamas to disarm is finalized, it will be a significant and welcome diplomatic win for the Trump administration. In a Truth Social post, the president was upbeat:

“Today [July 30], the Board of Peace reached a HISTORIC agreement for the COMPLETE DISARMAMENT of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza. This is a monumental step toward lasting PEACE and SECURITY. This agreement is a critical step towards Gaza finally being governed by a new Palestinian government that will work closely with the Board of Peace to help the Palestinian people. At the same time, [it] will have the security it deserves, with Gaza no longer used as a base for terror attacks.”

Trump went on to point out that it would be implemented “in carefully structured phases.” As each phase is completed, troops from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will be withdrawn, and responsibility for keeping the peace will be entrusted to the International Stabilization Force working with the new Palestinian police to establish a safe place to live for the Gazan people. Trump thanked mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey “for their important efforts, and especially my outstanding team, whose tireless work made this historic breakthrough possible.” 

According to Fox News, “Hours later, the Board of Peace released a statement saying the agreement holds significant 'promise' for a better future across Gaza and Israel.” This result comes after sustained US pressure, backed by Trump’s 20-point plan, which has already led to the initial ceasefire and the return of hostages. Though the agreement is encouraging, it is characterized as a “roadmap” for implementing Trump’s 20-point plan and the October 2025 Sharm el-Sheikh Protocol. Key provisions include:

• The end of military operations by all parties;
• The transfer of all civilian governance and security functions in Gaza to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a technical body under the Board of Peace that operates independently, and factions are prohibited from interfering;
• Handover of all police weapons to the NCAG upon its entry into Gaza;
• The decommissioning and storage of all heavy weapons, military production sites, weapons depots, and tunnels, after remaining ceasefire commitments are met. Only the NCAG will hold, store, or control weapons in Gaza.

The disarmament of Hamas is to proceed, contingent on the pace at which the IDF withdraws its forces. As The Jerusalem Post observed, “The officials repeatedly stressed that the agreement is not built on trust between the parties but rather on conditions, reciprocity, and verification. Every stage of implementation will require independent verification before the next phase can begin.”

Netanyahu Not on Board

A stumbling block to implementing the plan is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assertion that Israel did not agree to the draft plan. According to The Times of Israel, “After extended silence, PM insists IDF won’t withdraw from ‘current lines’ until Hamas fully disarmed, in seeming opposition to US-backed plan for initial Israeli pullback within Gaza.” Assuaging Israel’s concerns and determining the timing of who moves first are clearly problems in executing the Board of Peace plan. Netanyahu’s reluctance to sign on to the initiative is understandable. Israel’s experience with the duplicitous nature of Hamas accounts for its desire to have the terrorists disarmed first before withdrawing its forces.

Nothing is easy in the Middle East. Even with the “no trust” nature of the agreement, the level of skepticism with which Israel views Hamas’ promises presents a challenge to overcome. It will take all of the “Art of the Deal” Trump can muster.

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