Hamas disarmament deal faces skepticism in Gaza as ceasefire doubts persist
Palestinians in Gaza have expressed doubt that Hamas's pledge to disarm will bring a lasting change on the ground, even as the agreement is presented as part of the next phase of the ceasefire process. The latest comments come after Donald Trump said Hamas had agreed to "completely disarm", while Hamas said its commitment depends on Israel withdrawing from Gaza and ending its strikes. The gap between those positions has left many residents uncertain that the deal will alter daily life in the enclave.
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Local residents quoted in the report said they welcomed any agreement that is genuine and actually implemented, but questioned whether either side would follow through. Rabih Al-Balawi, 57, said he had been displaced 23 times during the war and described trust in Israeli promises as naive. Sanaa Shreir, 54, said she hoped the arrangement could improve the humanitarian situation, while acknowledging that disarmament is not easy and that people in Gaza mainly want relief for civilians.
The scepticism reflects the wider fragility of the ceasefire process, which was first announced in October 2025 but has not ended hostilities. Since then, Palestinian health authorities in Gaza have reported more than 1,200 deaths in Israeli strikes, many of them civilians, including children. That toll has kept pressure on mediators and deepened doubts that a weapons deal alone can deliver peace without a verified Israeli withdrawal and a halt to attacks.
The issue matters because disarmament, withdrawal and future governance are the central questions in any longer-term settlement for Gaza. The agreement is being linked to a broader roadmap involving mediators from Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye and the United States, as well as the proposed Board of Peace and International Stabilization Force for Gaza. Those elements suggest the talks are not only about ending fighting, but also about who will control security and administration after the war.
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The report also shows how the conflict remains shaped by mistrust built up over repeated failed efforts to stop the violence. Residents interviewed in Gaza said they feared promises would not be honoured, and one said it would be "naive" to believe Israel would withdraw as agreed. Hamas, for its part, has tied its own steps to Israeli action, saying it will not move unless strikes stop and forces leave large parts of the strip.
What remains unclear is how quickly any staged disarmament would begin, how compliance would be checked, and whether the parties can agree on the sequence of withdrawal and security guarantees. The next developments to watch are formal Israeli responses, the practical timetable for implementation, and whether mediators can keep both sides aligned with the deal. For people in Gaza, the immediate question is whether the agreement will change conditions on the ground or become another stalled promise.
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