Hamas Agrees to Disarm if Israel Complies with Full Gaza Withdrawal and Ceasefire Deal.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas has recently announced that it is willing to relinquish its arms and achieve a full disarmament if Israel unconditionally withdraws from the Gaza Strip, halts military operations in the area, and ensures that Israel and the United States implement the ceasefire agreement signed in October 2025. This new stance has injected a potential turning point in the prolonged Israeli-Palestinian conflict, sparking intense international attention.

Looking back at Hamas' historical context, the group was founded in 1987 during the initial stages of the First Intifada by Palestinian Islamic scholar Ahmed Yassin. Its roots can be traced back to charitable organizations related to the Muslim Brotherhood. Since winning the Palestinian Legislative Council elections in 2007 and defeating Fatah in Gaza, Hamas has effectively controlled the region to date. Its military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, has long been engaged in armed conflict with Israel, designated as a terrorist organization by multiple countries.

In recent years, the Gaza Strip has witnessed frequent conflicts, culminating in a humanitarian crisis. Amidst sustained international pressure and mediation efforts, the peace process in the region has undergone changes. In accordance with earlier peace blueprints and international negotiating progress, Hamas' civilian administrative institutions have announced their resignation in July 2026. Subsequently, former US President Trump declared that the peace committee he promoted had made initial progress in agreeing to disarm Hamas. Hamas' latest statement can be seen as a substantial step towards implementing that agreement.

However, achieving actual disarmament and a permanent ceasefire remains uncertain. The Israeli government remains vigilant about future security control in Gaza, insisting on eradicating the military threat posed by Hamas. Meanwhile, the United States and other international mediators must ensure that each provision of the ceasefire agreement is strictly supervised and enforced. Disagreements over the withdrawal timetable, security guarantees, and post-war governance of Gaza persist, requiring intense diplomatic and political negotiations.

For Taiwan, the turmoil in the Middle East and the shift in the regional geopolitics not only affect the stability of the global energy market and international supply chains but also directly impact the safety of global sea lanes and shipping costs. As a highly trade-dependent, outward-looking economy, Taiwan closely monitors the de-escalation of the Middle East situation and the progress toward peace. This helps assess the overall global economic risks and trends, as well as keep abreast of the latest developments in international politics and diplomacy.