Trump claims Israel ‘very happy’ about Hamas disarmament deal, as Netanyahu remains mum

US President Donald Trump claims Israel is “very happy” about the disarmament deal his Board of Peace inked yesterday with Hamas.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to comment publicly on it, though, and a pair of statements attributed to a “senior Israeli official” have asserted that Israel does not accept the proposal and will not carry out any withdrawals from Gaza as are required by the agreement.

Asked during a cabinet meeting whether the US has received any assurances from Israel that it will abide by the deal, Trump responds, “We do have an understanding with Israel.”

“Israel is very happy about it. Israel helped us, and they’ve been very good,” he says.

“Most people said that would be a deal that would be undoable. Will it go through its ups and downs? It’s a very complex situation over there… But it’s a great breakthrough. Nobody’s ever thought that be possible to disarm Hamas.”

“That shows you how much success we’re having with Iran, because five months ago, a deal like that would have been impossible,” he claims. “It’s a big step for the Middle East, and people are really impressed by it.”

Asked who Hamas will be giving its weapons to, Trump responds, “the Board of Peace.”

Technically, though, the US-backed Board of Peace disarmament proposal envisions Hamas handing over its weapons to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, a new Palestinian technocratic government that is overseen by the Board of Peace.