Hamas disarmament plan involves arms given up in stages, text shows

Hamas would be required to allow the destruction of its Gaza tunnel network as it laid down its arms in stages under a disarmament plan that was presented to the group by US President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" and seen by Reuters.

The plan follows an eight-month timeline that begins with a US-backed committee of Palestinian technocrats taking security control of Gaza and concludes with Israeli forces withdrawing completely upon "verification that Gaza is free of weaponry".

Hamas has long rejected calls to lay down its weapons, saying it will only give up arms to a Palestinian authority "if occupation ends".

"Criminalising the resistance, its weapons and those who have led it is something we should not accept," Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal said in early February.

"As long as there is an occupation, there is resistance."