WASHINGTON, US President Donald Trump has claimed that Israel is “very happy” with the Hamas disarmament agreement negotiated by the US-backed Board of Peace, despite the absence of any public endorsement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Speaking during a cabinet meeting, Trump said the United States has reached an understanding with Israel regarding the agreement.
“We do have an understanding with Israel. Israel is very happy about it. Israel helped us, and they’ve been very good,” Trump said.
While Trump expressed confidence in the agreement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly commented on the proposal.
Meanwhile, statements attributed to a senior Israeli official have indicated that Israel does not accept the current proposal and will not carry out the troop withdrawals from Gaza required under the agreement.
The differing public positions have created uncertainty over whether the deal can move forward as planned.
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Trump described the agreement as a significant diplomatic achievement, saying many experts had considered Hamas’ disarmament impossible.
“Most people said that would be a deal that would be undoable. It’s a very complex situation, but it’s a great breakthrough. Nobody ever thought it would be possible to disarm Hamas,” he said.
He also linked the development to what he described as growing US influence in the region following recent events involving Iran.
“That shows you how much success we’re having with Iran, because five months ago, a deal like that would have been impossible,” Trump added.
When asked who would receive Hamas’ weapons, Trump replied that they would be handed over to the Board of Peace.
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However, according to the US-backed proposal, Hamas is expected to transfer its weapons to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a newly established Palestinian technocratic governing body operating under the supervision of the Board of Peace.
The agreement envisions a phased disarmament process alongside the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces and the deployment of an international stabilization mechanism, though its implementation remains uncertain without formal approval from all parties.
