Senior US and Board of Peace officials said Hamas has accepted a roadmap that would ultimately require the dismantling of its military infrastructure, the destruction of tunnels and weapons factories, and its complete withdrawal from governing Gaza.
Israeli officials, however, remain unconvinced that Hamas will ultimately surrender its weapons.
Senior White House and Board of Peace officials on Thursday described the emerging Gaza framework as a “historic breakthrough,” saying Hamas has accepted a roadmap that would culminate in the complete dismantlement of all terrorist infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, including weapons stockpiles, tunnel networks and weapons production facilities, while relinquishing any governing or military role.
According to the officials, Hamas has agreed to the final version of the roadmap, including its comprehensive disarmament provisions. Israel, they said, has already endorsed the principles of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan and now has little to do beyond waiting for the implementation process to begin.
Still, administration officials acknowledged that Israel remains deeply skeptical: “Israel didn’t believe we’d be able to secure the hostage releases or recover the bodies,” one senior official said. “Now they don’t believe Hamas will actually disarm.”
‘Zero trust’ agreement
The officials repeatedly stressed that the agreement is not built on trust between the parties but rather on conditions, reciprocity and verification. Every stage of implementation will require independent verification before the next phase can begin. If either side fails to fulfill its commitments, the process automatically stops: “This is an agreement built on zero trust,” one official said. “Neither side will be asked to take a step unless the other side’s obligations have been verified.”
‘One authority, one law, one weapon’
The central principle of the roadmap is what officials describe as “One Authority, One Law, One Weapon.” Under the plan, a newly established Palestinian technocratic administration, created under the auspices of the Board of Peace, would eventually hold a complete monopoly over all weapons inside Gaza.
Hamas and all other armed factions would relinquish any civilian or military role. Civil administration and policing would gradually be transferred to the new authority, beginning with the transfer of police weapons before moving on to heavy weapons, ammunition depots, tunnel networks and weapons production facilities.
Clan militias and other armed groups would also be required to surrender their weapons. Officials insisted the framework leaves “no gray areas” that would allow Hamas to retain military capabilities while formally leaving power: “The objective is to prevent a situation where civilians govern Gaza during the day while armed Hamas operatives emerge at night to undermine the new authority,” one official explained.
Israeli withdrawal linked to disarmament
Israeli military withdrawals would take place gradually and only in accordance with verified progress in dismantling Hamas’ military infrastructure.
Board of Peace officials acknowledged that Israel cannot reasonably be expected to withdraw from areas where terrorist infrastructure or armed threats remain.
An International Stabilization Force, led by the United States under a UN-backed mandate, would assist in police training, weapons collection and storage, and serve as a buffer between Israeli and Palestinian forces during the withdrawal process.
Officials said commitments have already been received from multiple countries to contribute more than 5,000 personnel to the force. While the United States will lead planning and command, officials declined to say whether American troops would ultimately deploy inside Gaza.
A detailed implementation timetable is expected within two weeks of formal approval. Officials estimated that the complete disarmament process could take between 200 and 350 days but cautioned against treating those figures as fixed deadlines.
Instead, Gaza would be demilitarized sector by sector, allowing reconstruction to begin in cleared areas before the entire Strip is completed.
Officials: Iran tried to block the agreement
Senior US officials also said Iran attempted to persuade Hamas not to accept the framework. According to the officials, Tehran urged Hamas not to rush into an agreement, but ultimately failed to derail the negotiations.
They argued Iran is no longer capable of providing Hamas with the level of support it once did and that Hamas’ leadership concluded it had to consider both its own future and that of Gaza’s population.
Under Trump’s broader framework, officials noted, an amnesty mechanism would also be available for individuals who meet the agreement’s demilitarization requirements and abandon armed activity.
A technocratic government, without Hamas or the Palestinian Authority
The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) is intended to serve as a transitional Palestinian technocratic government.
It would replace Hamas in administering civilian affairs, oversee policing and lead Gaza’s reconstruction.
US officials stressed that the Palestinian Authority is not expected to return to Gaza at this stage. Instead, they said, the PA must first implement meaningful reforms and demonstrate effective governance in the West Bank before any future role in Gaza could be considered.
The reconstruction effort will also include a comprehensive audit of Gaza’s public assets, finances and liabilities with assistance from international financial institutions.
Officials said dozens of previous reconstruction plans had been reviewed in an effort to produce a single comprehensive strategy aimed not only at rebuilding Gaza but at creating a functioning economy capable of reducing long-term dependence on international aid.
‘The hardest part begins now’
Officials acknowledged that reaching agreement on the roadmap represents only the first stage.
Negotiations lasted for months, with intensive talks continuing over the final 48 hours before Hamas accepted the final text: “We’ve crossed one mountain, reaching the agreement,” one official said. “Now we have to climb the next one: implementation.”
Washington argues the ultimate objective is to ensure that another October 7-style attack can never occur, while preventing Gaza from once again becoming a military base directed against Israel and creating conditions for long-term economic recovery.
Yet despite the optimism expressed by US officials, the gap between Washington’s expectations and Jerusalem’s skepticism remains significant.
For the White House, Hamas’ acceptance of the roadmap represents a historic diplomatic achievement.
For Israel, however, the real test will come only if Hamas’ weapons, tunnels and military capabilities disappear not only from the agreement, but from Gaza itself.