Gaza, January 22, 2026 (Agencies) – Palestinian militant group Hamas has reportedly agreed to surrender its weapons in exchange for safe passage for its leaders out of Gaza and a transition to purely political activity, Sky News Arabia reported on Thursday.
Citing an anonymous Palestinian source, the outlet said Hamas has already handed over some arms and maps of its underground tunnel network to the United States through an undisclosed mechanism. In return, the US has guaranteed that Hamas will remain politically active in Gaza and that certain bureaucrats and police personnel will be allowed to serve in a new administration, provided they pass an Israeli-American security check.
The source added that Hamas leaders will be permitted to leave Gaza safely, with assurances that Israel will not target them abroad.
Neither Hamas nor the US has officially confirmed the report, and Israel has not issued a statement. Sources indicated that Israel has reservations, particularly about Hamas’ continued political role in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed to “completely destroy” Hamas during the two-year conflict in the enclave.
The report comes ahead of the formal launch of the US-led “Board of Peace” by President Donald Trump, intended to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction and governance under the newly formed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). The NCAG, comprising 15 Palestinian technocrats, held its inaugural meeting in Cairo last week.
Since the ceasefire in October, clashes have continued intermittently, with more than 450 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers killed. The new development could mark a significant step toward stabilizing Gaza under international supervision while transitioning Hamas away from armed activities.