Trump announces Gaza disarmament deal, expert calls it breakthrough but warns of challenges

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal to disarm Hamas in Gaza, hailing it as a major diplomatic breakthrough. Middle East expert Anders Persson described the agreement as the most significant development since the ceasefire began in October last year, though he cautioned that implementation remains a challenge.

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It is the biggest breakthrough regarding Gaza since the ceasefire began in October last year. That said, there is a long way to go to implementation.

Persson noted a pattern in Trump's ceasefire declarations concerning Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, suggesting they often fall short of their grand pronouncements and can lead to renewed violence. He pointed out that despite Trump's efforts to end mass killings and secure the release of Israeli hostages, the conflict has merely shifted form, with Israel continuing to shell Gaza.

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We have also seen a pattern that Donald Trump's declarations and statements, which are always grandiose and where he talks about historic breakthroughs, tend to be much less grandiose than he claims.

Health authorities in Gaza reported 1,160 Palestinian deaths, mostly civilians, since the October 2025 ceasefire. While Israel has not yet commented on the new agreement, Persson anticipates a statement, suggesting that silence often indicates political sensitivity. He added that representatives from Trump's administration are signaling disappointment with Israel if it fails to meet expectations.

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Donald Trump deserves all the credit for stopping the mass killing in Gaza. And he got out the Israeli hostages. But the fighting is far from over, it has just taken a new form.

The likelihood of full agreement implementation is uncertain, according to Persson, due to numerous moving parts and the critical sequence of events. Key steps include Hamas's disarmament, Israel's withdrawal, the establishment of a new governing body, and the deployment of an international security force. A plan for Hamas's disarmament is due within 14 days, but Persson expressed skepticism about its practical execution, citing the possibility of Hamas withholding weapons.

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When Israel says nothing, it is often because things are politically sensitive. But we see representatives from Trump's administration going out and saying that Donald Trump will be very disappointed with Israel if they do not do what is expected of them here.