What we know as Trump announces Hamas will disarm in Gaza

Donald Trump has announced that his Board of Peace has brokered a disarmament deal with Hamas in what he called “a monumental step”. It is understood the deal would see Israel withdraw from Gaza in exchange for the Iran-backed militant group giving up their weapons. “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,” Trump said in a social media post. Shorts “At the same time, Israel will have ⁠the security it deserves, with Gaza no longer used as a base for terror attacks.” Israel has yet to comment, with US officials saying that Trump will be “very disappointed” if Israel does not withdraw from Gaza as part of the agreement. Hamas has not officially responded to the announcement, but senior officials have told the media that it has agreed to the plan. The Board of Peace initiative has been criticized by rights advocates who have raised concerns about what they call an imperial structure ‌and by those who see it as undermining the United Nations. What has been agreed? Trump declared the news on Truth Social on Thursday, writing: “Today, 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.” It is understood to be the same 20-point ceasefire plan which Trump announced last year, which laid out a settlement where Hamas would lay down its weapons and destroy its network of tunnels. Israel would withdraw from the Gaza Strip, and the territory would be rebuilt after more than two years of war which has reduced much of the area to rubble. That proposal was nominally agreed to, but further negotiations had reached a bitter stalemate until this latest announcement. The four-page plan sets out a timeline of 14 days for a disarmament process to be set out, though there are provisions to extend this if necessary and agreed by all parties. What is the Board of Peace? Trump first proposed the board last September when he announced his plan to end Israel’s war in Gaza. He later said the board’s remit would be expanded beyond Gaza to tackle other conflicts worldwide, with Trump as its chair. Such efforts have traditionally been the role of the United Nations. Member states would be limited to three-year terms unless they pay $1bn each to fund the board’s activities and ​earn permanent membership, its charter said. The White House in January named US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner as members ​of the initiative’s founding Executive Board. Critics pointed out that the board does not feature any Palestinian representatives, even though it was create to administrate over the fate of Gaza. This story is being updated.