Hamas agrees to disarm, but major challenges ahead

Hamas reached an agreement to disarm, officials said yesterday, a significant move that could help end the war in Gaza — but one that would face many hurdles and could take a long time to achieve, if at all.The group agreed to a road map as long as Israel also makes concessions, including ending hostilities and withdrawing its troops from the Palestinian territory, a Hamas official and a regional official said. Israel has not commented on the deal, which US President Donald Trump announced hours earlier. Hamas militants celebrate what they say is a victory over Israel after an eight-day conflict during a rally in the northern Gaza Strip on Nov. 22, 2012. Photo: Reuters It comes nine months after a US-brokered ceasefire to end the fighting between Israel and the group was signed.That 20-poi