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Gaza ceasefire talks see rare progress, but Israel demands full disarmament
🇸🇬 Singapore /Conflict & Security

Gaza ceasefire talks see rare progress, but Israel demands full disarmament

From CNA · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Rare progress has been reported in Gaza ceasefire talks held in Cairo between mediators and Hamas leaders, according to sources close to the effort.
  • Discussions focus on a US-brokered plan involving aid, civilian administration, and weapons removal, but Israel has rejected a proposal, demanding complete disarmament and demilitarization of Gaza.
  • Hamas is reportedly willing to "confine and store" heavy weapons under a Palestinian body, but not hand them over to Israel, while the status of light weapons remains unclear.

Mediators and Hamas leaders in Cairo have made rare progress in talks aimed at implementing a US-brokered Gaza peace plan, sources close to the negotiations reported Thursday. The discussions are centered on a comprehensive roadmap that includes a surge in humanitarian aid, governance by a civilian Palestinian administration, the disarmament of Hamas, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the deployment of an international security force.

Israel demands the complete disarmament of Hamas, including the removal of weapons from Gaza and the complete demilitarisation of the Strip as a precondition for any process.

— Israeli officialStating Israel's core demands for any peace process.

Despite the reported progress, an Israeli official stated that the proposed terms were unsatisfactory. Israel maintains its precondition for any process is the complete disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip. The official indicated that a 15-point document under discussion does not meet these demands, and Israel has conveyed its objections.

The 15-point document in question does not provide a satisfactory response to these demands and Israel conveyed its objections.

— Israeli officialExplaining Israel's rejection of the current proposal.

A Hamas official and a diplomat involved in the Cairo talks described the discussions as "positive" and "making progress." However, the Hamas official did not confirm whether the group had agreed to fully disarm, a key sticking point for the past four months. Sources close to Hamas suggest the group is willing to "confine and store" heavy weapons under a Palestinian body, rather than handing them over to Israel. The fate of light or personal weapons remains uncertain.

The discussions were 'positive' and 'making progress'.

— Hamas officialDescribing the atmosphere of the talks.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes on Thursday killed at least six Palestinians in Gaza, including two children, according to medics. These strikes occurred as diplomatic efforts continued, highlighting the ongoing conflict and the challenges to achieving a lasting peace.

The group was coming with a 'positive and good' response.

— Hamas officialIndicating Hamas's initial stance in the negotiations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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