Israeli forces struck targets across Gaza on Friday, killing at least two Palestinians, hours after Hamas said it would hand over its weapons to a Palestinian governing committee under a US-backed peace plan. One report put the death toll at five, saying the strikes hit Gaza homes after the plan was unveiled.
Hamas said it had agreed to give up its weapons to the National Committee, a transitional Palestinian authority, rather than to Israel or an international force. A 15-point agreement obtained by Middle East Eye states that no weapons will be transferred or surrendered to Israel or any non-Palestinian party, and that the National Committee alone will retain, store or control weapons in Gaza once the process is complete.
Hamas said the deal depends on Washington and Israel honouring commitments made under last year's ceasefire. Hamas official Ghazi Hamad said the group would keep its weapons until Israel halts its attacks, allows more aid and goods into Gaza, and withdraws its forces in line with the truce.
Israel has said it will not pull back until Hamas is fully disarmed. The Israeli daily Haaretz quoted a political source as saying there would be no Israeli withdrawal from the "Yellow Line" that cuts Gaza in half.
US President Donald Trump announced the plan, saying Israeli forces would withdraw as disarmament is completed and a UN-mandated International Stabilization Force would work with a new Palestinian police force. Trump called the agreement a monumental step toward peace, but Israel has not publicly acknowledged it.
The deal makes weapons collection a Palestinian-run process. The National Committee would be the sole authority for registering weapons, issuing licences and enforcing the law, with all factions and clans required to cooperate. The International Stabilization Force would only monitor compliance and the flow of humanitarian aid, with no policing duties or ceasefire enforcement.
Each phase of the plan depends on verified completion of the previous phase, and the process will begin only after the Sharm El-Sheikh Protocol obligations are met, the National Committee enters Gaza and the force deploys - none of which have happened. The committee has yet to enter Gaza seven months after its appointment.
The agreement gives the parties 14 days to finalise the timetable and sets a financial ceiling of $400 million over three years for the committee to address legitimate obligations. Militia fighters will not be absorbed into the police or security forces.