Draft Gaza plan proposes phased Hamas disarmament under US-backed framework: Report

By Gizem Nisa Demir

ISTANBUL (AA) - A draft Gaza proposal led by US-backed mediators envisions Hamas surrendering weapons capable of striking Israel while temporarily retaining some small arms, according to officials, signaling a potential shift in efforts to demilitarize the enclave after years of war.

The plan, prepared by an international team that includes President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, US envoy Steve Witkoff, and former senior UN official Nickolay Mladenov, is expected to be presented to Hamas in the coming weeks, people familiar with the discussions told The New York Times, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of negotiations.

Washington is pushing for phased disarmament as a cornerstone of President Donald Trump’s broader 20-point Gaza framework, which underpins the current ceasefire arrangements.

“The United States is working closely with all parties and mediators to ensure full implementation of the plan and to advance a durable security framework that supports long-term stability in the region and prosperity for Gaza,” said a White House spokesman, Dylan Johnson.

Israel has insisted that any troop withdrawal from Gaza depends on Hamas laying down its arms, viewing demilitarization as essential.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously warned Hamas would be disarmed “the easy way or the hard way, but it will happen.”

According to the daily, analysts say dismantling Hamas’ military capabilities remains the “linchpin of everything,” with RAND Corporation’s Shira Efron cautioning that failure could risk renewed conflict or a divided governance structure in Gaza.

Hamas has not publicly committed to disarmament, though senior official Khaled Meshal recently suggested the group intends to retain its weapons, stating: “As long as there’s an occupation, there’s resistance,” while adding that armed action against Israel may not be likely “in the next 10 to 15 years.”