Hamas Responds to Gaza Disarmament Claims: It Is True, But...
Hamas has responded to an announcement by US President Donald Trump stating that the group has agreed to disarm in Gaza. Ghazi Hammad, a member of the Hamas negotiating team, told Al Jazeera on Friday (31/07/2026) that the issue of disarmament depends on the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the progress of the reconstruction process.
“Israel will not interfere in the matter of disarmament; the national committee will be the one to carry out this task,” he stated. He noted that negotiations to reach a final agreement are “difficult and tough,” and expressed that Hamas is striving to achieve the best possible formula. “Hamas remains steadfast in its national goals, realised through efforts to defend the rights of the Palestinian people,” he added. “Hamas will not implement any steps from the Gaza peace agreement if the Israeli occupation forces do not fulfil their obligations under the agreement.”
Previously, Trump stated that an agreement had been reached to disarm Hamas and all other armed groups in the Gaza Strip. This move is described as part of an effort to establish a new Palestinian government that will take control of Gaza post-war. Quoting Trump’s statement on the Truth Social platform on Thursday (30/07/2026) local time, the agreement was reached through an entity he referred to as the Board of Peace, a recently formed security council.
“This agreement is a significant step so that Gaza can ultimately be governed by a new Palestinian administration, which will work closely with the Board of Peace to assist the Palestinian people,” Trump wrote. He added that the agreement would also guarantee security for Israel, ensuring that Gaza is no longer used as a base for terror attacks. Trump noted that the disarmament process is part of the ceasefire agreement he mediated last October to end the war in Gaza.
In other developments, a meeting is set to be held in Cairo, bringing together mediators from Egypt, the US, Qatar, and Turkey to ensure all parties’ commitment to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. According to Al-Qahira News, Egyptian sources familiar with the matter stated that the upcoming talks aim to reaffirm all parties’ commitment to the established roadmap. Reports indicate that Hamas and other Palestinian factions have officially approved the proposal, which includes provisions for the deployment of international forces and the entry of a National Committee to execute its duties. The agreement is expected to pave the way for initial recovery operations and reconstruction efforts throughout the Gaza Strip.