An agreement brokered by the Trump administration now hinges on Hamas surrendering its arsenal, a concession the militant group formally accepted on Friday. The deal, announced by US President Donald Trump, outlines a path toward ending hostilities in Gaza, yet key questions about Israeli withdrawal and verification remain unresolved. Main Developments Hamas confirmed its acceptance of a detailed roadmap for implementing the next phases of the Gaza ceasefire, according to the Board of Peace, which announced the breakthrough on social media. The plan calls for the group to hand over its weapons to a newly formed Palestinian governing committee, with Israeli forces gradually withdrawing from the territory. Read also: Sri Lanka Court Issues 2 Death Sentences for Easter Bombings Washington's envoy, Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace's high representative for Gaza, acknowledged the complexity of the negotiations, noting they took months of difficult work. He stressed that implementation and verification must be genuine, adding that withdrawal must proceed in lockstep with decommissioning efforts. Israel, however, has not issued an official response to the announcement. A political source indicated that no withdrawal from current lines would occur unless Hamas undergoes genuine disarmament, underscoring the fragile nature of the agreement. Background The Palestinian group's weapons have been a persistent obstacle since the ceasefire took effect in October, with Israel insisting on full disarmament before any pullback. Hamas's late leader was replaced by Khalil Al-Hayya, who now oversees the movement's negotiating position during this critical period. Trump announced the agreement late Thursday, describing Hamas's complete disarmament as a critical step toward establishing a new Palestinian government in Gaza. The Board of Peace, a body established by the former president, will oversee the storage of weapons through a committee known as the National Committee for Administration of Gaza. Despite the ceasefire, violence has not fully subsided. Israeli strikes on Thursday killed at least four people, including two children, according to health officials, highlighting the continued fragility of the situation on the ground. Why It Matters The agreement represents a potential shift in the long-stalled peace process, offering a framework for disarmament that could break the cycle of violence. Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas's negotiating team, framed the concessions as necessary to save Gazans from further killing and displacement. Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has already denounced the deal as unacceptable, calling it tantamount to allowing Hamas to organise for the next massacre. This opposition signals that domestic political resistance could complicate implementation. International reaction has been cautiously optimistic. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas welcomed the deal but warned that success depends on the full commitment of all parties, noting that verifying Hamas's compliance will be a significant challenge and that Israel would eventually need to withdraw from Gaza. What's Next Egypt's state-linked Al-Qahera News reported that Cairo will host a meeting of truce mediators soon, including the United States, Qatar, and Turkey, to focus on the second phase of the ceasefire plan. The mediators will need to address amendments Hamas recently submitted concerning two articles in the roadmap. A diplomatic source said the roadmap offers a balanced path forward with no exceptions for certain weapons or certain people, creating a process for eliminating all tunnels, weapons depots, and production facilities. A verification mechanism would ensure compliance by each side. The Board of Peace confirmed that the NCAG will soon begin a phased transition toward full authority, with Trump stating that an International Stabilization Force will work with a new Palestinian police force. The immediate question remains whether Israel will formally accept the terms and whether Hamas's amendments gain approval from all parties.