Hamas would have to allow its vast network of tunnels in Gaza to be destroyed as it gives up its weapons over eight months, under a disarmament plan drawn up by the U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.
The proposal, which has been presented to the Palestinian militant group, would see a committee of Palestinian technocrats take control of security in the Gaza Strip before Israeli troops withdraw completely, subject to “verification that Gaza is free of weaponry”.
Hamas’s disarmament remains a sticking point in Trump’s plan to cement an October 2025 ceasefire in Gaza, which halted two years of full-blown war.
The Islamist group, which has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007, has long rejected calls to lay down its arms, which are believed to be stored and transported through tunnels beneath the territory.
Israel has refused to withdraw from the coastal strip until Hamas disarms, citing security concerns.
The Board of Peace, which Trump set up in early 2026 to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, presented the plan to Hamas last week. The group has yet to comment on the proposal.
A Palestinian official close to the talks described the proposal as “unfair”, adding that Hamas would be expected to seek “amendments and improvements.”
The official said the plan did not provide guarantees that Israel would fulfil its obligations and warned it could risk a resumption of the war by linking reconstruction to disarmament.
Several other Palestinian factions, including Islamic Jihad, issued statements echoing similar criticisms of the plan on Thursday (26 March).
The October 2025 ceasefire left Israel in control of well over half of the coastal strip, with Hamas retaining authority over the remainder of the territory.
Hamas is officially committed to armed resistance and Israel’s destruction. However, officials within the group have privately expressed openness to disarmament, provided it leads to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The Board of Peace’s 12-point plan makes no mention of Palestinian statehood or independence.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 17th of April, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Despite celebrations and cheers in Beirut Thursday night, some people who are affected by the conflict in Lebanon are sceptical about the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon announced by U.S. President Trump on Thursday (16 April).
A 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect on Thursday at midnight local time and President Donald Trump said the next meeting between the United States and Iran may take place over the weekend, adding to optimism that the Iran war could be nearing an end.
The past 24 hours of the Russia-Ukraine war have seen a drastic escalation in both aerial bombardment and frontline losses.
Dubai’s most iconic hotel, the Burj Al Arab, is set to close for the first time since opening in 1999 as it begins an extensive 18-month refurbishment aimed at preserving its status as a global symbol of luxury.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, have said the Strait of Hormuz is now “completely open” to all commercial shipping for the remainder of the ceasefire period. Araghchi links the move to the ceasefire in Lebanon.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that there was a "good chance" of a peace deal between Lebanon and Israel happening soon, after he announced a 10-day ceasefire between the two countries.
Russia published addresses of manufacturers allegedly producing drones or components for Ukraine on Wednesday (15 April), warning European countries against plans to step up UAV supplies to Kyiv.
Türkiye and the World Bank have signed a new partnership to strengthen Türkiye’s connectivity with Europe, Asia and the Middle East, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs, including the creation of 100,000 more worldwide.
Trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan has reached $1 billion, reflecting expanding economic cooperation and strengthening political ties between the two countries.
Antalya is set to become the centre of global diplomacy this week as it hosts the fifth edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF), a major international gathering that brings together leaders, policymakers and thinkers from across the world.
Georgia’s parliament has approved fast-tracked amendments to the Law on Grants, introducing new exemptions and expanding the state’s role in defining and overseeing foreign funding.
Nine people, including eight children, were killed in a shooting at a middle school in Türkiye’s southeastern Kahramanmaraş province on Wednesday. Thirteen others were injured, sparking public outrage and raising concerns about a rare phenomenon in the country.
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