United States President Donald Trump announced Friday that Israel has an "understanding" with the Palestinian group Hamas regarding a deal for the group to disarm, despite the Israeli government not yet formally agreeing to the terms.

Trump made the claims during a cabinet meeting at Camp David, Maryland, describing the situation as complex but presenting the agreement as a significant breakthrough. The deal, brokered by mediators including Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye, and the US, reportedly involves Hamas surrendering its weapons to a Palestinian committee in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

While Hamas confirmed it had agreed to the first step of the arrangement, Israel has remained largely non-committal. Far-right Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir publicly denounced the plan, calling it "unacceptable to Israel" and "tantamount to agreeing to Hamas organising for the next massacre." However, Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon suggested to CNN that Trump would not be disappointed with Israel's eventual response, while also questioning specific details of the agreement.

Trump, however, expressed optimism, telling reporters that Israel was "very happy about it" and had "helped us with it." He characterized the potential disarmament as a "great breakthrough" that "nobody's ever thought that would be possible."

The preliminary agreement, if fully implemented, could mark a significant shift in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The region has seen extensive casualties, with at least 73,341 Palestinians killed in the enclave. A ceasefire agreement, part of a 20-point US-backed plan, was signed in October of the previous year, but its full implementation has been uncertain amid reported Israeli violations.

An International Board of Peace has been established to oversee the new deal, with Trump serving as its chairman. A Palestinian organization, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, has been designated to eventually manage daily affairs in the territory.

The complexity of the situation is underscored by the conflicting signals from Israel. While some officials have voiced strong opposition, the overall government stance remains unclear, leaving the future of the disarmament plan in doubt.

This development comes amidst a protracted period of conflict and mediation efforts, highlighting the challenges in achieving lasting peace and security in the region. The success of the proposed deal hinges on Israel's formal acceptance and the willingness of all parties to adhere to its provisions.