A tentative agreement has emerged between Hamas and Israel, with Hamas agreeing to begin disarming under a ceasefire deal backed by U.S. President Donald Trump. The deal, however, remains conditional, with Hamas stating it will only proceed with disarming if Israel halts all attacks in Gaza and fulfills the terms of the first phase of a ceasefire agreement signed in 2025 (latimes.com).
Israeli officials have expressed caution, with one official stating that Israeli troops will not withdraw from Gaza without "genuine" Hamas disarmament (bbc.co.uk). Meanwhile, Trump has called the agreement a "breakthrough," claiming Israel is "very happy" with the proposal for Hamas to surrender weapons in exchange for a withdrawal (bbc.co.uk).
Despite the agreement, uncertainty persists. Hamas has confirmed it will begin disarming, but the process is contingent on Israel ceasing all attacks and adhering to the ceasefire terms (thecable.ng). The situation remains fragile, with both sides yet to fully commit to the terms of the deal (toronto.citynews.ca).
The agreement comes just days after Israel launched attacks across Gaza, killing at least two Palestinians, hours after Hamas reportedly agreed to a draft peace deal (aljazeera.com). The path to lasting peace remains unclear.
