Hamas and Gaza factions agree to disarm and cede authority

UN officials said Hamas agreed to disarm and transfer governing authority in Gaza to a new interim body, a step that could reduce immediate hostilities.

They announced the claim in a UN briefing on August 26, 2026; the UN special coordinator Nikolay Mladenov outlined the agreement and its broad elements.

Authority transfer to interim council

Officials said the arrangement would see armed factions surrender weapons and hand civil governance to an interim council backed by international monitors. The briefing did not list a timetable, verification mechanics, or which groups will lead the interim body.

The claim, as presented by UN officials, has not been independently confirmed by other governments or on-the-ground observers. That single-source status leaves key questions about enforcement, disarmament sequencing and the presence of impartial monitoring teams unanswered.

If implemented, UN officials said the transfer could open corridors for scaled humanitarian assistance and reduce cross-border strikes, altering the security calculus in southern Israel and northern Gaza. Regional actors and aid agencies are likely to press for rapid, verifiable steps before shifting operational posture.

UN officials said they expect to brief member states on implementation progress by August 29, 2026.