United News of Bangladesh

Hamas said Friday it has agreed to a phased roadmap to disarm, a significant step that could help end the war in Gaza if Israel also fulfills key conditions, including ending hostilities and withdrawing its forces from the Palestinian territory. Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim confirmed the agreement on X, while a Hamas official and a regional official told media the group's commitment is contingent on Israeli concessions. Israel has not commented on the deal announced earlier by U.S. President Donald Trump, nine months after a U.S.-brokered 20-point ceasefire plan was signed. The agreement calls for Hamas to surrender weapons, dismantle tunnels, facilitate an Israeli troop withdrawal, establish a new Palestinian technocratic government, deploy an International Stabilization Force (ISF) and begin Gaza's reconstruction. Police weapons would be transferred to the U.S.-backed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, while heavy weapons and tunnels would be decommissioned in phases linked to Israel's withdrawal. Israel, however, has insisted it will not withdraw from areas under its control until Hamas is fully disarmed. U.S., Turkish, Egyptian and Qatari mediators are guaranteeing the deal, though Israel is not a signatory. Officials said the disarmament process could take 200-350 days. The war began after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack that killed about 1,200 people, while Gaza's Health Ministry says Israel's offensive has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians.