A reported Hamas disarmament deal is being discussed behind closed doors, with claims the group could surrender weapons in return for a political future in Gaza.

What the Hamas Disarmament Deal Reportedly Includes

Reports published on Friday, January 23 claim Hamas has agreed to surrender its arms if its leaders are granted safe passage out of Gaza and the movement shifts to political activity.

The same reporting alleges Hamas has already handed over some weapons and maps of its underground tunnel network to the United States through a mechanism that has not been publicly explained.

Another element in the reported understandings is that Hamas would provide tunnel maps and allow members of its political and military leadership who want to leave Gaza to do so, alongside a US commitment that Israel would not target them in future.

Who Would Run Gaza Next

The reports say some Hamas bureaucrats and police officers could be absorbed into a new Gaza administration if they pass Israeli and US security vetting.

This transition is linked to Phase Two of a US-backed plan that envisages Hamas disarming and handing control to a 15-member Palestinian technocratic body, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, which reportedly held an inaugural meeting in Cairo.

Israel’s Reservations and the Ceasefire Strain

The reporting says Israel has reservations about parts of the alleged understandings, particularly any clause that would allow Hamas to remain active as a political party.

There was no immediate comment from Israel, Hamas or the United States on the reported deal.

The claims land in a conflict that has already taken a devastating toll. Reporting cited figures that the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel killed 1,221 people and saw 251 hostages taken, while Israel’s retaliatory assault on Gaza has killed more than 70,000 people, according to Gaza health ministry figures described as reliable by the UN.

Why this Matters Now

One report says the alleged deal surfaced hours before a US-led “Board of Peace” structure was signed into existence, tied to governance and reconstruction plans.

The same reporting also claims more than 450 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers have been killed since an October ceasefire, amid accusations of truce violations.