According to a report by Sky News Arabia, the Palestinian militant group Hamas has agreed to surrender its arms in exchange for free passage out of Gaza for its leaders and a transition to solely political activity. Citing an anonymous Palestinian source, the outlet claims that Hamas has already handed over some weapons and maps of its underground tunnel network to the US. In return, the US has offered assurances that Hamas will be allowed to remain involved in politics in Gaza, with some of its bureaucrats and police officers permitted to work for a new administration, provided they pass an “Israeli-American security check.”
The source also claimed that Hamas’ leaders will be allowed to leave Gaza, with the US assuring them that Israel will not target them abroad in the future. However, Israel has significant reservations about the agreement, particularly the clause that allows Hamas to remain politically active in Gaza. This development comes as US President Donald Trump has signed his ‘Board of Peace’ into existence, a sprawling international organization aimed at overseeing Gaza’s reconstruction and governance.
The board, initially planned as a small group of technocrats, has grown to include 60 countries, with permanent membership offered for $1 billion per country. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to join and has offered to donate $1 billion from Russian assets frozen in the US. The board’s charter does not mention Gaza, leading critics to accuse the US president of attempting to build a rival to the United Nations.
The reported agreement between Hamas and the US comes as part of Trump’s 20-point plan to settle the conflict in Gaza, which includes the disarmament of Hamas and the transfer of control to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a group of 15 Palestinian technocrats. Despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in October, both sides have accused each other of violating the truce, resulting in the deaths of over 450 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers.
The situation in Gaza remains volatile, with the international community watching the developments closely. The reported agreement and the establishment of the ‘Board of Peace’ are significant steps, but their impact on the region’s stability and the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains to be seen. As the situation continues to unfold, the international community will be closely monitoring the actions of all parties involved.
