Peace Council plan: Hamas to disarm and dismantle tunnels

The plan to disarm Hamas, prepared by US President Donald Trump’s Peace Council, envisages a phased handover of weapons and the dismantling of Gaza’s tunnel network over eight months, according to Reuters.

A US-backed Palestinian technocratic body would play a central role, taking control of the territory and overseeing the process. The plan is structured in five stages – from assuming control of Gaza to a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces once it has been verified that no weapons remain in the area.

The most intensive phase is to include the handover of heavy weapons and the destruction of tunnels, regarded as key Hamas infrastructure.

The movement has publicly rejected disarmament, although it is reported to have signalled a willingness to consider it as part of a broader political settlement.

However, the plan has drawn criticism from Palestinian factions, which argue that it prioritises security concerns over the reconstruction of Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli troops.

(reuters, pir)