What’s in the proposed deal to disarm Hamas and withdraw Israeli forces from Gaza
PBS News Hour – Politics — 2026-07-31 17:55:00 — www.pbs.org
Trump Calls Gaza Disarmament Plan a “Great Breakthrough,” Experts Question Feasibility
President Trump today described a new U.S.-backed road map for Gaza as a “great breakthrough,” claiming, “Nobody’s ever thought that would — nobody thought that would be possible to disarm Hamas. That shows you how much success we’re having with Iran.” Trump’s remarks came as U.S. and Board of Peace officials announced a multi-step agreement aimed at disarming Hamas, withdrawing Israeli forces from Gaza, and reconstructing the territory.
The Plan and Trump’s Framing
According to officials, the agreement would begin with Hamas police transferring small arms to a new internationally trained police force, followed by the installation of a new transitional government in Gaza, and the deployment of international troops to replace Israeli forces. The most challenging step would be the disarmament of Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades, with heavy weapons and tunnels to be decommissioned and stored by the interim Palestinian government.
President Trump linked the plan’s prospects to his administration’s approach to Iran, suggesting the deal’s progress reflects broader U.S. success in the region. However, this characterization glosses over the significant obstacles acknowledged by both U.S. and international officials.
Skepticism from Experts and Stakeholders
Experts interviewed for the report noted that while Hamas has agreed to a form of disarmament, the process is highly conditional and fraught with mistrust. Hamas leaders stated they would only put weapons in “storage” inside Gaza if Israel acts first, and the weapons would be handed to Palestinians, not Israel. Israeli officials, meanwhile, reiterated that there would be “no withdrawal whatsoever” of Israeli forces unless Hamas undergoes “genuine disarmament,” highlighting a fundamental impasse.
Aaron David Miller of the Carnegie Endowment described the plan as “tethered, frankly, to a galaxy far, far away, rather than to the realities back here on planet Earth,” citing entrenched red lines on both sides and political distractions, including those attributed to Trump.
Conclusion
While President Trump has publicly celebrated the agreement as a historic achievement, the facts on the ground suggest the path forward is uncertain and fraught with challenges. The mutual distrust between Hamas and Israel, the sequencing of disarmament and withdrawal, and the looming Israeli election all cast doubt on the plan’s viability. Despite Trump’s optimistic framing, experts and officials caution that the agreement’s implementation remains highly unlikely under current conditions.