CAIRO/WASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. President Donald Trump said that talks held in Cairo between mediators and Hamas leaders this week had resulted in a phased agreement to disarm armed groups in Gaza, but U.S. officials said Israel was doubtful that Hamas would actually give up its weapons.

However, a Hamas official described the deal as only a draft.

"Today, the Board of ‌Peace reached a HISTORIC agreement for the COMPLETE DISARMAMENT of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza," Trump said in a social media post, adding that the disarmament would come in phases. "This is a monumental step toward lasting PEACE and SECURITY."

Trump said the agreement would help pave the way for Gaza to be governed by a new Palestinian administration working closely with the Board of Peace. He also said the plan would ensure Israel's security and prevent Gaza from being used as a base for attacks.

The Israeli embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment.

A Hamas source said the draft agreement proposed that heavy weapons would be stored under the control of a Palestinian administration and would not be handed over to Israel. A senior Hamas negotiator said the group would not take any steps toward disarmament until Israel withdrew from Gaza.

A U.S. official said Israel remained very doubtful that Hamas would follow through with disarmament. At the same time, the official expressed confidence that Hamas would stick to the agreement, adding that President Trump would be disappointed if it did not.

There were also questions about how long the process would take. A member of the Board of Peace estimated it could take between 200 and 320 days, although a U.S. official suggested that timeline might not be accurate.

Before Trump's announcement, an Israeli official said the country had already rejected a similar proposal. The official stated that Israel demands the complete removal of all Hamas weapons from Gaza and full demilitarisation of the territory before any agreement can move forward. The official also said that the proposal under discussion did not meet these conditions.

Earlier in the day, Israeli airstrikes killed at least six Palestinians in Gaza, including two children, according to medical sources.

Hamas leaders met with mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey to discuss the next phase of Trump's Gaza plan, which the Board of Peace presented.

Trump created the Board of Peace to oversee efforts to end the war in Gaza and rebuild the territory. He appointed himself as chair and said the group would supervise Gaza's temporary administration.

The board's envoy for Gaza said the plan aimed to rebuild Gaza under Palestinian leadership, ensure peace with Israel, and create a path toward resolving the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Officials involved in the talks shared few details about reconstruction plans. The proposal also includes increasing humanitarian aid, setting up a civilian Palestinian government, withdrawing Israeli forces, and deploying an international force to help maintain security.

Despite these plans, conditions in Gaza remain far from stable.

Hamas has said it wants Israel to commit to stopping attacks and withdrawing its troops. It is still unclear what will happen to smaller weapons or whether Israel or the Board of Peace will accept Hamas's position.