President Donald Trump announced that negotiations in Cairo between mediators and Hamas leaders have resulted in a “historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas,” outlining a structured approach, reports BritPanorama.
While sources close to the talks indicated progress, there remains uncertainty over the viability of the agreement, as an Israeli official has stated that the proposed terms do not meet their standards.
Trump emphasized that this agreement represents a crucial step towards establishing a new Palestinian governance system in Gaza, closely aligned with his Board of Peace, to aid the Palestinian population.
He added that it is paramount for Israel to have security guarantees, ensuring Gaza can no longer serve as a base for terrorist actions.
Neither the Israeli Embassy in Washington nor Hamas responded promptly to requests for comments regarding Trump’s remarks.
Earlier on Thursday, Israeli airstrikes reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least six Palestinians, including two children, according to local medics.
Officials associated with Hamas and diplomatic sources involved in the Cairo discussions suggested that any progress will be contingent on Israel’s response and its willingness to allow a broader agreement.
However, an unnamed Israeli official expressed discontent, claiming that Israel has dismissed a proposal that fails to meet their demands for complete disarmament.
The official underscored that for any agreement to progress, Israel requires comprehensive disarmament of Hamas, including the removal of weapons from Gaza and total demilitarization, which they deemed unsatisfactory in the current proposal.
The 15-point document presented by Hamas was characterized as inadequate in addressing these requirements, according to Israeli sources.
A road map toward Hamas disarmament?
Hamas leadership is engaged in discussions with mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey regarding the second phase of Trump’s Gaza plan, facilitated by the Board of Peace.
Anna Evstigneeva, Russia’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations, informed the Security Council that the road map devised by Trump’s envoy for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, has thus far failed to garner support from both Israel and Hamas, with Gaza’s demilitarization remaining a significant challenge.
The Board of Peace refrained from commenting about the Cairo negotiations.
According to a diplomat conversant with the talks, negotiations are progressing towards a road map aiming at decommissioning all types of weapons in Gaza.
The framework proposes a humanitarian aid surge, governance by a civilian Palestinian administration, Hamas’s disarmament, Israeli military withdrawal, and the deployment of an international force to oversee security.
Despite these proposals, progress has been sluggish in recent months.
Handover of weapons could be sticking point
A Hamas official indicated that the group was prepared to respond positively but withheld confirmation on whether they would fully disarm, which remains a contentious issue in the negotiations.
Hamas continues to demand that Israel ceases its attacks on Gaza and withdraws its forces as a precondition.
Sources familiar with Hamas’s position revealed that they are amenable to restricting heavy weapons under Palestinian control but are reluctant to surrender them to Israel.
The status of lighter weapons remains unclear, and it is uncertain if Hamas’s revised stance will be acceptable to both Israel or the Board of Peace.
The diplomat confirmed that the proposed road map in Cairo entails transferring authority incrementally to the U.S.-backed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, ensconced in the principle of “one authority, one law, one weapon.”
According to the diplomat, the plan aims to eliminate tunnels, arms caches, and weapon production sites, ensuring that by the process’s conclusion, Gaza will have no remaining militant infrastructure.
The roadmap is framed around reciprocal actions instead of trust.
Nevertheless, the current situation on the ground in Gaza diverges significantly from the aspirations of this plan.
The Israeli military has escalated its operations in Gaza, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing intentions to extend Israeli control over 70% of the territory.
Challenges persist regarding the number of troops available for deployment with the proposed International Stabilization Force, as well as the potential for Israeli troop withdrawal from the enclave.
In Cairo, two Egyptian officials claimed that Hamas had conceded on several critical issues, including the handover of weapons, but sought amendments to the definitions of the infrastructure slated for dismantling, indicating that further negotiations are ongoing.
Attacks continue
While the recent ceasefire has alleviated large-scale hostilities, the near-daily Israeli strikes remain a prevalent concern.
Health officials reported that separate Israeli attacks have resulted in the deaths of at least two children, a woman, and three men in Gaza on Thursday, with the Israeli military asserting they targeted Hamas militants.
This latest set of casualties compounds a grim toll of over 1,200 Palestinians, primarily civilians, killed in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire’s implementation, per reports from Gaza health officials.
Conversely, four Israeli soldiers have lost their lives to militant actions in Gaza since the ceasefire started.
Often, Hamas does not publicly disclose its casualty figures.
