Israeli officials say Hamas agrees to full disarmament in ceasefire talks

Israeli officials said Thursday that Hamas appears to have agreed to a complete disarmament as part of a draft agreement for the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire. The proposed deal would require the removal of all heavy and light weapons, the destruction of tunnels, depots and production facilities, and would be monitored by a strict verification mechanism.

"In practical terms, this is Hamas’ surrender," one official said, adding that the framework mirrors earlier mediator-approved terms and allows no compromises.

Palestinian representatives, speaking through the Board of Peace for Gaza and unnamed sources, described progress on the weapons issue but emphasized a “certain formula” for handling and storing arms rather than outright surrender. They said the roadmap calls for the dismantling of weapons and tunnels while allowing a Palestinian technocratic committee to oversee heavy arms in designated facilities.

"There is a certain formula for transferring and storing the weapons," a source close to Hamas told Ynet.

Israeli officials rejected the narrower wording, insisting the agreement is “sharp, clear and detailed” and that any signing would mean 100% disarmament before any Israeli withdrawal. They also linked a future pull-out to the United States-backed 20-point plan and said a verification committee would ensure full compliance.

Both sides said an announcement on the second ceasefire phase could be made later Thursday, outlining a 15-point roadmap that ties weapons disposal to an Israeli withdrawal, the end of targeted killings and the continuation of civilian services under an independent committee. International mediators, including the United States, remain engaged to prevent a resumption of hostilities and to establish a stable governance framework for Gaza.