Donald Trump has declared that his self-styled Board of Peace has brokered an "historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza." The US president took to Truth Social to announce the breakthrough, which he says will pave the way for a new Palestinian government and security for Israel. "The threat that emerged from Gaza on October 7 will NOT be allowed to rebuild!" he wrote, in case anyone forgot what day it was.

But before you pop the champagne, note that Hamas and Israel have yet to officially respond. Meanwhile, an Israeli official has already told the Times of Israel that the proposal "does not adequately address" demands for complete demilitarisation. Because nothing says 'historic agreement' like one side immediately saying it's not good enough.

The deal, which Trump claims will be implemented in "carefully structured phases," involves Hamas handing over its weapons over an eight-month period to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a panel of Palestinian technocrats overseen by the Board of Peace. In exchange, Israeli forces would withdraw and an International Stabilization Force would help a new Palestinian police force keep the peace. Sounds simple enough, right? Except that the NCAG has been blocked from entering Gaza by Israel since its creation in January, which might complicate things.

Hamas, for its part, has reportedly confirmed the agreement, with one official noting that "Israel will not intervene in the issue of disarmament" and that the NCAG will handle the "cataloguing and storage of weapons." The negotiations, which began about six months ago, were "lengthy and difficult," according to Hamas negotiator Hamad, who added that the group was making "concessions for the sake of our people in the Gaza Strip." How noble.

Australia's foreign minister, Penny Wong, welcomed the announcement but cautiously noted that "a long road to recovery" remains. She also reiterated Australia's support for a two-state solution, which is nice, but perhaps a bit premature given the current situation.

The Board of Peace, which includes more than 20 countries but notably excludes some key democratic allies, has hailed the agreement as a "historic breakthrough." Trump thanked mediators Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, as well as his own team, for their efforts. Because who needs the UN when you have a board with a catchy name?

Meanwhile, in a separate but equally confusing development, Pakistan is insisting that negotiations between Iran and Washington are ongoing, even as the US carries out "heavy" strikes on Iran. Because why have one Middle East crisis when you can have two?

So, to sum up: Trump claims victory, Israel is skeptical, Hamas is cautiously optimistic, and the world waits to see if this 'historic' agreement actually amounts to anything. Stay tuned.