Despite the ongoing talks in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, since last Saturday, with the participation of representatives of Palestinian factions and Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators, regarding the development of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, none of the desired results of these talks have been achieved yet. Informed sources denied to what was rumored about the discussion including the clause of “handing over the resistance’s weapons.”
No discussion on the weapons file
An informed source in one of the factions participating in the meetings told Al-Quds Al-Arabi that, contrary to what has been rumored during the past 48 hours regarding Palestinian disagreements over the “resistance weapons” file, it is inaccurate, and that the weapons file was not presented in the manner that was leaked, indicating that there are those who want to focus on this file, considering it the main obstacle to the progress of negotiations.
He stressed that what was presented was related to implementing the requirements of the first phase, and exploring how to move to the second phase, according to the mechanisms contained in the ceasefire plan proposed by the US administration and adopted by the mediators of the truce, and as a result of which the Sharm El-Sheikh agreement was signed, under which the first phase of the truce agreement began to be implemented.
The third day of negotiations witnessed two meetings, the first of which was dedicated to the mediators with the delegation of the Islamic Resistance Movement “Hamas”, headed by Khalil al-Hayya, and the second was an expanded meeting, attended by all the delegations participating in the meeting with the mediation trio, similar to the previous two days.
A source in the Islamic Resistance Movement “Hamas” confirmed to Al-Quds Al-Arabi that the movement’s delegation held a morning session with the mediators, during which ways to stop the aggression against Gaza and implement the requirements of the truce were discussed in depth.
At the same time, he stressed that the movement came to these negotiations while strongly refusing to discuss the “resistance’s weapons,” and had informed all three mediation groups, as well as the High Representative of the “Peace Council,” Nikolay Mladenov, of this.
Mladenov's plan amended
He confirmed that Hamas had requested, prior to this round, and after conducting discussions on the “Mladenov Paper” which it received last month, which includes 20 clauses for implementing the second phase of the truce agreement and links all relief and reconstruction files to “disarming the resistance,” that work be done on a “fundamental amendment” to this paper, after it rejected this condition and insisted on the necessity of implementing all the clauses of the first phase before moving to the second phase.
He explained that the talks, which began on Saturday in Cairo, are based on “amending Mladenov’s paper” through new ideas and proposals, in order to make it feasible.
It is reported that Hamas has requested that the second phase not be skipped without a clear mechanism preceded by the implementation of the first phase of the agreement, which is supposed to include relief for the residents of Gaza. Israel is stalling on implementing this, as it does not allow the necessary aid to enter, in addition to not adhering to the agreement, as it has expanded its control over new areas in the Gaza Strip, amid the continuation of the bloody attacks.
Currently, attempts are being made to “merge” the first phase with the second, according to a mechanism that the mediators are seeking to make satisfactory to both parties. The Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators, if this round is successful, are seeking to formally present the proposals to both Hamas and Israel.
The talks are being conducted by Egyptian intelligence chief Minister Hassan Rashad, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin.
In the past few hours, reports have leaked about mediators discussing with Hamas in Cairo a proposal that includes a gradual mechanism for "controlling weapons" as part of the arrangements for implementing the ceasefire agreement. The proposal links implementation to the start of the work of the Palestinian Administrative Committee, the deployment of an international stabilization force, and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The Cairo talks are seeking to reach a "consensus formula regarding the weapons file" in preparation for completing the implementation of theceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, in addition to discussing security and political arrangements related to the next phase of the ceasefire agreement.
Searching for guarantees
But the source in Hamas confirmed that the movement’s delegation did not discuss the issue of “resistance weapons,” stressing that the movement demands first the implementation of the first phase, noting that the movement had previously announced that “resistance weapons” are linked to a final solution to the Palestinian issue that guarantees the return of rights.
He pointed out that the movement is looking for ways to push forward the implementation of the first phase of the agreement before starting the second phase. He said that during the consultations that preceded this round, and during the current round of negotiations, the movement’s delegation asked the mediators to exert effective pressure to compel Israel to implement the first phase, as well as to stop the bombing and assassinations, and to allow the entry of the quantities of aid stipulated in the ceasefire agreement.
Despite the mediators officially asking Israel to halt the escalation during the current round, it responded with a refusal, stipulating that it must first obtain approval from Hamas and the resistance factions on the “disarmament” clause, which the movement rejected.
Another informed source who spoke to Al-Quds Al-Arabi explained that by the end of the second day's talks, no "approaches" had been reached. He said that the failure to reach these "approaches" regarding the development of the agreement was due to Israeli policies and the occupation government's refusal to implement the ceasefire agreement gradually. He said, "Progress depends on Israel; it is the one violating the agreement and refusing to implement what is stated in it." He stressed that Hamas is demanding "binding guarantees" this time, in light of previous experiences with Israel.
He said, “The problem is not to whom the weapons are handed over, the problem is the chaos that will erupt in Gaza.” He added, “Who will guarantee Israel and its agents?” He continued, “The weapons issue will be resolved within final arrangements.”
He stressed that there is a fear among the resistance factions of “great chaos” due to the “handing over weapons” proposal, which threatens civil peace and ignites disputes within the Gaza Strip community, if it is not part of a comprehensive proposal that gives the Palestinian people their rights, ensures the existence of a Palestinian force that maintains security and can fully control it, and provides guarantees that Israeli attacks will not return.
It should be noted that the second phase of the agreement includes Israeli withdrawals from the Gaza Strip, where the occupation forces currently control 60% of the Gaza Strip’s area, in addition to a clause that calls for “disarming the resistance” and keeping the weapons in the hands of the security force affiliated with the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.
According to information obtained by Al-Quds Al-Arabi, there are ideas based on merging the first and second phases, so that the proposed plan is acceptable to both parties.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said that his movement and the Palestinian factions are holding meetings in Cairo with mediators with the aim of finding “approaches” that guarantee the implementation of the first phase, especially the humanitarian aspect, and put an end to the aggression against the Palestinian people. He stressed that his movement is open to approaches that guarantee the rights of the Palestinian people, stop the genocide in all its forms, and correct the performance of the Peace Council so that it is faithful to the ceasefire implementation plan and gets out of the circle of bias towards the Israeli vision and narrative.
