Peace Council publishes Gaza disarmament roadmap: heavy weapons to stay under Palestinian control

The publication of the roadmap follows Friday morning's announcement by President Donald Trump regarding a historic agreement for the total demilitarization of the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Peace Council, a U.S.-led technocratic body, is positioning the framework as a practical path toward a "one authority, one weapon" reality. However, the specific details released this afternoon highlight several critical points of friction that remain subject to intense scrutiny by the Israeli security establishment.

The Disarmament Framework

Under the terms of the roadmap, Hamas and other armed factions are required to transfer all heavy weapons, rockets, military production sites, and tunnel infrastructure to the custody of the Peace Council. Crucially, the plan specifies that these assets will be stored at designated sites inside Gaza and will remain under Palestinian control. The framework explicitly states that weaponry will not be transferred to Israel or any non-Palestinian entities.

In exchange for these steps, the roadmap calls for a phased withdrawal of IDF forces according to a synchronized timetable. The plan also mandates a halt to Israeli targeted killings of terror operatives and the cessation of all military operations by Hamas. To oversee the transition, a technocratic committee will enter the Strip, supported by a multinational stabilization force tasked with monitoring the agreement and training a new Palestinian police force.

Unresolved Security Gaps

Despite the formal commitment, analysts point to three primary "holes" in the current roadmap that pose risks to long-term stability. First, the exact sequence of implementation remains ambiguous; while the framework is intended to be step-by-step, it is not yet clear whether the Israeli withdrawal or the verified disarmament will be the process that reaches completion first.

Second, the roadmap includes a controversial provision allowing Gazan civilians to hold "personal weapons" under regulations set by the Peace Council. Critics argue this could serve as a loophole for maintaining armed cells under a civilian guise. Third, the decision to keep heavy weapons in local warehouses raises the immediate concern of Hamas or other factions looting the sites once Israeli forces have withdrawn.

Strategic Outlook

The roadmap also requires the disbanding of any militias backed by Israel, further consolidating the Peace Council's intended monopoly on force. As [The Zioneer reported earlier today](https://thezioneer.com/en/article/hamas-agrees-to-board-of-peace-plan-for-complete-gaza-disarmament-israel-yet-to-comment-on-97d29884), the implementation is expected to span 200 to 300 days. While the Peace Council hails the plan as a historic achievement that will bring tangible benefits to Gazans, the "zero trust" model upon which it is built will be tested by the physical verification of tunnel destruction and the prevention of re-armament from the very warehouses the agreement establishes.