As C14 first reported, significant progress has been made in talks on the next phase in Gaza. Sources involved in the details on both the Israeli and Gaza sides report movement toward agreement, and according to Arab reports, an official announcement on the matter could be published as soon as today. Gaza is setting as conditions a full Israeli withdrawal from the Strip and an end to targeted killings.
2+According to a Gaza source involved in the talks, understandings have been reached around the weapons issue, including a framework for handover and storage of military assets under an agreed mechanism. According to him, the formula is acceptable to Hamas and to the international mediators, and in parallel, understandings have also been reached regarding civil mechanism employees and management of civilian systems in the Strip.
The source estimated that the Israeli government will examine the framework according to its demand for complete disarmament of Hamas. According to him, if the United States supports the proposal, it could remain on the table going forward, including with a different government in Israel.
2+According to sources of our political commentator Yaakov Bardugo, one of the options being examined is that Hamas would begin handing over weapons and revealing tunnel locations within about two weeks. Under the roadmap, the terror organization is first supposed to cease military activity, and subsequently the technical mechanisms that would enable the start of the full demilitarization process would be determined.
Meanwhile, Israeli sources involved in the details said that “the direction looks positive,” and claimed that Hamas is agreeing to a framework that includes complete disarmament of heavy and light weapons, handover of tunnel locations, and operation of strict oversight mechanisms. According to them, if an agreement is signed, it will be “strict and detailed, with no tricks and no compromises.”
2+However, the talks are still at a sensitive stage, and at this point there is no signed agreement or certainty that the timelines being discussed will actually materialize. Significant question marks also remain around the method of implementation and the ability to ensure that Hamas will meet its commitments.