Trump-backed Peace Council Announces Hamas Disarmament Agreement
UAE readers: Trump Peace Council says it has agreed to begin full Hamas disarmament in Gaza, with phased Israeli withdrawal and an international stabilisation force. (today.lorientlejour.com)
Immediate announcement and claims
President Donald Trump said on February 19, 2026 that the Peace Council he chairs had reached an agreement to pursue the full disarmament of Hamas and other armed factions in the Gaza Strip. He framed the development as a central step of his 20-point Gaza plan and communicated details via his Truth Social platform and remarks at a council session. (today.lorientlejour.com)
The announcement said the disarmament process would be implemented in stages and tied to a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of Gaza. Trump also pledged the deployment of an international stabilisation force and the establishment of a new Palestinian police component to secure the enclave during transition. (aa.com.tr)
Reaction on the ground and from regional capitals was cautious, with observers noting gaps between political declarations and the practical challenges of disarming an entrenched armed movement. Independent reporting and regional analysis stressed that agreement details, verification mechanisms and timelines remain to be published. (aljazeera.com)
Phased implementation and Israeli withdrawal
According to the outline released alongside the announcement, the council intends to make the disarmament contingent on sequential implementation milestones. Each stage would see Israeli forces pull back from designated areas while international monitors and the new security bodies take positions. (aa.com.tr)
The plan foresees an initial focus on removing heavy weapons, destroying tunnel networks and securing weapons stockpiles, followed by broader demobilisation of armed units. Officials backing the scheme say these steps will be verified by international teams before additional reconstruction funding flows into Gaza. (terrorism-info.org.il)
Israeli leaders have repeatedly said they will only complete withdrawals once they see credible steps toward demilitarisation, and Israeli statements suggest contingency planning remains in place should armed groups refuse to comply. This conditionality is likely to shape the pace and geographic scope of any Israeli pullback. (aa.com.tr)
International stabilisation force and Palestinian security plan
The Peace Council’s announcement described an international stabilisation force tasked with securing crossings, protecting aid flows and assisting in the disarmament process. Member states that attended council meetings have reportedly pledged personnel and logistical support for such a mission. (terrorism-info.org.il)
Complementing the international presence, the plan includes formation and training of a new Palestinian police force to assume day-to-day security and law enforcement in Gaza. Supporters say the force will be part of a staged handover, operating alongside international units until local capacity is certified. (terrorism-info.org.il)
Planners acknowledge major obstacles: integrating former combatants, vetting recruits, and ensuring the new force’s impartiality in a highly polarised environment. Humanitarian agencies have stressed that stabilisation efforts must be paired with rapid reconstruction and basic services to prevent renewed instability. (aljazeera.com)
Role of mediators: Egypt, Qatar and Turkey
Trump publicly thanked Egypt, Qatar and Turkey for their mediation roles and said those states had helped broker the council’s consensus on security and governance steps. The three countries have acted as intermediaries in past Gaza negotiations and continue to host back-channel talks. (today.lorientlejour.com)
Diplomatic involvement by regional states is presented as essential for oversight, transit arrangements and political guarantees tied to the disarmament timetable. Council backers say regional buy-in is intended to provide both local legitimacy and logistical support for verification tasks. (today.lorientlejour.com)
Nonetheless, some regional officials have signalled reservations about the scope of disarmament and how it would affect Palestinian political representation. Those concerns center on whether a security-first approach can be balanced with credible steps toward Palestinian governance and rights. (aljazeera.com)
Funding pledges and reconstruction conditionality
Council statements accompanying the announcement said member states had pledged billions for humanitarian assistance and reconstruction, though disbursement would be tied to progress on security milestones. The pledges are intended to kick-start rebuilding efforts while providing leverage to ensure compliance. (today.lorientlejour.com)
Donor coordination and oversight mechanisms remain to be clarified, and aid agencies have warned that tying life-saving assistance too tightly to political benchmarks risks delaying relief to civilians. International financial backers will face pressure to reconcile urgency for reconstruction with political and security prerequisites. (aa.com.tr)
Regional and diplomatic responses
Reactions across the Middle East and in international capitals have been mixed, ranging from cautious support for a negotiated demilitarisation to scepticism over enforceability. Analysts note that past pledges have faltered when verification and enforcement mechanisms were weak or when on-the-ground realities shifted. (aljazeera.com)
Humanitarian organisations and some UN agencies have urged that security plans be accompanied by immediate guarantees for civilian protection, unhindered aid access and clear timelines for restoration of services. They stress that any lasting settlement will require political progress alongside security measures. (aljazeera.com)
The coming days are likely to see requests for detailed annexes, third-party verification procedures and formal sign-offs by regional partners. The credibility of the Peace Council’s pledge will depend on transparent mechanisms and visible progress on the ground.
The council’s announcement sets out an ambitious pathway toward Hamas disarmament and a transition in Gaza, but implementing the plan will require sustained diplomatic coordination, robust verification and rapid delivery of humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to stabilise daily life for Gaza’s civilian population. (today.lorientlejour.com)
