Full Breakdown
U.S. Proposes Phased Disarmament Plan for Hamas Amid Ongoing Tensions
2/11/2026, 9:51:31 PM
Overview of the Disarmament Proposal
The United States has drafted a plan requiring Hamas to surrender all weapons capable of striking Israel while allowing the group to retain some small arms initially. This proposal, led by a U.S.-backed team including Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, and Nickolay Mladenov, is expected to be presented to Hamas in the coming weeks. The plan is a critical component of President Donald Trump’s broader 20-point framework for Gaza, which aims to facilitate reconstruction and establish a new governance structure in the region.
Key Elements of the Plan
The proposed disarmament process is designed to be gradual, potentially taking several months or longer. Heavy weapons would need to be decommissioned immediately, while lighter arms would be registered and decommissioned later under the oversight of a new Palestinian technocratic committee, known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). This committee is intended to govern Gaza post-Hamas, but its operational status remains uncertain.
Official Statements & Responses
White House spokesman Dylan Johnson emphasized that the U.S. is working closely with all parties to ensure the full implementation of the plan, aiming to create a durable security framework for Gaza. However, Hamas has consistently rejected disarmament, with Khaled Mashaal, a senior leader, asserting that as long as there is occupation, resistance is a right. He described disarmament as an attempt to criminalize the resistance and insisted that Hamas would not surrender its weapons.
Criticism & Opposition
Critics argue that the U.S. plan may be unrealistic given Hamas's entrenched position and its perception of having "won" the recent conflict. Experts suggest that the expectation for Hamas to voluntarily disarm is detached from the group's incentives. Some analysts propose that military intervention may be necessary to enforce disarmament, though this raises significant political and logistical challenges.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While the U.S. plan outlines a structured approach to disarmament, the specifics regarding the ownership and storage of surrendered weapons remain unclear. Additionally, there are discrepancies in reports about Hamas's willingness to cooperate, with some sources indicating a potential for negotiation under certain conditions, while others highlight a firm stance against disarmament.
What's Next
The U.S. plans to host a meeting of the Board of Peace on February 19, which aims to support Gaza's reconstruction and oversee the disarmament process. However, the success of this initiative hinges on Hamas's compliance and the broader geopolitical dynamics in the region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to discuss the stalled second phase of the Gaza ceasefire with President Trump, emphasizing that no reconstruction can proceed without Hamas's disarmament.
Verbatim Quotes
- “As long as there is occupation, there is resistance. Resistance is a right of peoples under occupation… something nations take pride in,” — Khaled Mashaal, Senior Hamas Leader
- “the United States is working closely with all parties and mediators to ensure full implementation of the plan,” — Dylan Johnson, White House Spokesman
- “Disarmament for a Palestinian means stripping away his very soul,” — Khaled Mashaal, Senior Hamas Leader
This evolving situation underscores the complexities of achieving lasting peace in Gaza, with significant obstacles remaining in the path toward demilitarization and reconstruction.
