US Hamas disarmament initiative

In late July 2026 the U.S. President announced a series of historic Middle‑East peace proposals that hinged on Hamas disarming and a broader cease‑fire. Analysts quickly questioned feasibility; Hamas leaders publicly rejected any commitment to lay down arms and continued to enforce taxes and rules in Gaza. Former UK envoy Tony Blair warned that Israel would not withdraw from the Gaza Strip without a comprehensive settlement, underscoring the diplomatic stalemate.

Later the same day, President Donald Trump formalised the effort through a self‑created Board of Peace, presenting a framework that ties Hamas’s surrender to Israel’s fulfillment of cease‑fire obligations. Experts remained skeptical, citing limited international participation and doubts from regional actors. Simultaneously, the administration faced an escalating confrontation with Iran after a series of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, with Trump warning of further attacks on Tehran.

On July 31, Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon expressed doubt that the Trump‑led disarmament agreement could be implemented. He warned that Hamas has a history of moving weapons between sites and that any disarmament must be verifiable and permanent. Danon said Israel would expect U.S. assurances and noted that discussions might include conditions such as Israeli troop withdrawals to the UN‑defined border before Hamas would fully disarm.

Later on July 31, Hamas announced it would discuss a phased disarmament plan only if Israel first carried out a staged pull‑back of its forces to the “yellow line,” guaranteed a permanent cease‑fire, released prisoners, expanded humanitarian aid and allowed international monitoring. President Trump hailed the development as a historic advance, while noting that Israel had not yet formally accepted the proposal. Danon reiterated that any “cosmetic” solution would be insufficient without concrete Israeli troop withdrawals.