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Reuters: Progress in Hamas disarmament talks in Gaza; Israel's response awaited
🇬🇷 Greece /Conflict & Security

Reuters: Progress in Hamas disarmament talks in Gaza; Israel's response awaited

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Negotiations in Cairo for Hamas's disarmament have seen rare progress, according to diplomatic and Palestinian sources.
  • The proposed roadmap includes a phased Israeli withdrawal, Hamas disarmament, and the deployment of an international stabilization force.
  • Israel has not yet responded to Hamas's proposed modifications to the roadmap, while a recent Israeli airstrike killed six Palestinians.

Rare progress has been made in Cairo negotiations concerning the disarmament of Hamas, according to a diplomatic source and a source close to the Palestinian Islamist organization. Negotiations have been ongoing for weeks in Egypt, aiming to implement the second phase of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. This phase seeks to end the war in the Gaza Strip and involves the gradual withdrawal of the Israeli army, the disarmament of Hamas, and the deployment of an international stabilization force.

We will continue to promote the roadmap

— Diplomatic sourceSpeaking anonymously about the ongoing negotiations and the US-drafted roadmap.

A source close to Hamas reported significant convergence on several points related to weapons. They noted that modifications to the roadmap were proposed to mediators, and Israel's response is now awaited. A diplomatic source, speaking anonymously, stated, "We will continue to promote the roadmap" drafted by the United States. They emphasized that the roadmap mandates the withdrawal of all weapons "without exception," allowing a Palestinian technocratic government, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), to manage the enclave.

the withdrawal of all weapons “without any exception”

— Diplomatic sourceDescribing the conditions stipulated in the US-drafted roadmap for Gaza's management.

The handover of weapons to the NCAG should also occur in coordination with the International Stabilization Force (ISF), according to the diplomatic source. The Hamas-aligned source highlighted that the proposed formula emphasizes "the storage of heavy weapons, the dissolution of armed organizations, and the simultaneous withdrawal of Israeli forces." A Hamas official told Reuters that the organization submitted a "positive and good" proposal, without specifying a commitment to full disarmament. Hamas first demands Israel commit to halting attacks on Gaza and withdrawing its forces. Sources close to the organization indicate a willingness to "store" heavy weaponry with a Palestinian institution rather than Israel.

the storage of heavy weapons, the dissolution of armed organizations, and the simultaneous withdrawal of Israeli forces

— Hamas-aligned sourceExplaining the emphasis of the proposed formula for ending the conflict.

It remains unclear what will happen with light or personal weapons, or whether Hamas's proposal will be accepted by Israel or the Peace Council. An Israeli political source cited by Reuters stated that Israeli forces will not withdraw from the "yellow line" in Gaza until Hamas is disarmed and the Palestinian enclave is demilitarized. Despite the ceasefire, at least six Palestinians, including two children, were killed in Gaza by Israeli strikes on Thursday.

positive and good

— Hamas officialDescribing Hamas's proposal submitted to mediators.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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