Hamas, Gaza Factions Agree to Disarm and Transfer Governing Authority, UN Briefing Claims

In a significant development, Hamas and other armed factions in the Gaza Strip have purportedly agreed to disarm and transfer complete governing authority, both civilian and security, to a new body. Nickolay Mladenov, director-general of the Peace Council, presented this claim during a briefing to the UN Security Council on Wednesday evening.

This reported agreement follows the Israeli security cabinet's recent approval of a pilot phase for the Peace Council's integration into Gaza. The broader effort aims to restore basic services, humanitarian aid, and civilian infrastructure in areas not currently under Hamas control. The plan's initial phase will concentrate on the Rafah area.

During discussions, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich supported the initiative, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir reportedly opposed it. Under the approved plan, temporary structures will be established to house Palestinian residents, alongside the restoration of essential services and humanitarian aid. A strict security screening process will be implemented for anyone seeking to reside in these designated compounds, ensuring they are not affiliated with Hamas or other terrorist organizations.

As part of the preparations for implementing the plan on the ground, the cabinet also approved the deployment of an international stabilization force in Gaza. The success of this plan hinges on the genuine commitment of all parties to disarm and transfer authority, a claim that, if realized, would represent a historic shift in Gaza's governance.

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For the first time, Hamas and other armed factions in the Gaza Strip have agreed to surrender their weapons and transfer full governing authority, both civilian and security, Nickolay Mladenov, director-general of the Peace Council, claimed to the UNSC on Wednesday evening.