Hamas has agreed to a ceasefire deal with Israel that mandates the Islamist movement's disarmament and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, according to international media reports.
Announcing the deal, United States President Donald Trump said Hamas’ disarmament was a critical step toward forming a new Palestinian government in Gaza.
Trump added that Israel’s military, which occupies more than half of the Palestinian territory, will withdraw fully "as disarmament is completed."
Context
Hamas’ disarmament has been one of the key sticking points in advancing the ceasefire deal that has been in place in Gaza since October last year.
Despite the ceasefire, violence has continued in the Gaza Strip.
The territory's health ministry reported that 1,214 Palestinians have been killed by continued Israeli air and artillery strikes since the truce came into effect.
International media agency AFP reported that recent strikes killed at least four people, including two children.
Agreement
AFP reported that Hamas had agreed to allow a committee established by Trump’s Board of Peace to govern Gaza and oversee the process of storing the movement's weapons.'
Trump’s Board of Peace – an international organization established to promote peacebuilding – confirmed that Hamas had "agreed to a detailed Roadmap for implementing the next phases of the Gaza ceasefire."
It added that the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), established by the Board of Peace, will "soon begin a phased transition toward full authority”, with Hamas had already agreeing to dissolve its government in Gaza and transfer administrative power to this technical committee.
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