Hamas accepts framework to disarm in Gaza under Palestinian supervision
Hamas has accepted a framework that would see its remaining heavy weapons in Gaza inventoried and stored under Palestinian supervision, according to people involved in the talks. The move is being described as a potential breakthrough in the Trump-backed peace initiative for Gaza. It follows months of difficult negotiations and comes after Hamas completed leadership elections that elevated Gaza-based leader Khalil al-Hayya.
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A senior Hamas official on the movement's negotiating team said the talks were long and extremely difficult. He said Hamas had insisted on the wording of "inventorying and storing weapons" under Palestinian oversight rather than handing them over to Israel. Palestinian officials involved in the discussions believe the new leadership was prepared to take what they described as the most consequential political decision in Hamas's history.
The reported framework is tied to efforts to end a war that has lasted for nearly three years. Supporters of the plan argue that disarmament is the most significant obstacle to advancing the wider peace initiative, while the humanitarian situation in Gaza has added pressure for a deal. The talks are taking place against the backdrop of more than two million Palestinians living through severe hardship, with many displaced and dependent on aid.
If implemented, the agreement could mark the first credible step toward a broader political process. It would also test whether Hamas, Palestinian intermediaries and other parties can sustain commitments after repeated failures in previous ceasefire efforts. The reported arrangement does not amount to a full handover of weapons to Israel, but it would place the remaining heavy arms under a monitored Palestinian mechanism, which may be intended to make the process more politically acceptable to Hamas.
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The development also reflects the internal changes within Hamas after its leadership elections. Khalil al-Hayya's elevation appears to have coincided with a willingness to consider a more far-reaching compromise. That matters because the movement's decisions on disarmament and governance will shape not only the future of Gaza but also the prospects for any wider settlement involving Palestinian institutions and international backing.
Public reaction in Gaza has been cautious, with little enthusiasm reported after years of failed ceasefires and collapsed agreements. Many residents remain sceptical that any announcement will translate into an end to the fighting, the return of displaced families or lasting relief. What remains unclear is whether the framework will be fully implemented, how compliance would be verified and whether all sides will honour their commitments in the coming days.
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