The Hamas negotiating delegation began holding meetings with the three mediators of the ceasefire agreement in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, to find solutions to the remaining disagreements with the Israeli occupation regarding approximately half of the points included in the proposed truce.
A well-informed source within the movement told that the delegation, which returned to Cairo to meet with officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey two days after its initial departure, came after receiving assurances that progress could be made in this round to reach solutions for some of the remaining points in the latest proposals presented by the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nikolay Mladenov. The mediators conveyed Hamas's new responses and initiated contacts with Israeli officials.
Prior to their return to Cairo, the Hamas leadership held internal meetings and contacted partner factions to discuss developments in the truce negotiations, the latest agreements reached with the mediators, and new proposals for a solution.
Agreement on some points
The source explained that a preliminary agreement, reached through mediation efforts during previous meetings, addressed seven of the points outlined in the document, while the mediators promised solutions for approximately three or four other points.
He stated that the current major disagreements revolve around three issues: weapons, employees, and withdrawal from Gaza.
The source affirmed that Hamas, along with the other resistance factions, is ready to sign an agreement to move to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, but Israel is obstructing this and hindering the agreement in order to maintain its policy of continued killing, destruction, and siege in Gaza.
He indicated that in the meeting held with Mladenov during the penultimate round of talks, during which the new document was presented, agreement was reached on all points with the representative of the Peace Council, who requested that the proposal be conveyed to Israel. Israel, in turn, did not object to some of the points but rather presented a document unacceptable to the resistance factions. He added, "What Israel could not take in war, it will not be able to seize in negotiations."
He stated that Hamas and its partner factions have absolutely no trust in what Israel tells the mediators, nor in its future intentions, given its continued stalling and procrastination, and its rejection of any solutions that would allow for a transition to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement. He pointed out that Israel still refuses, to this day, to implement its obligations under the first phase agreement.
US President Donald Trump's plan for the first phase stipulated a cessation of attacks, a prisoner exchange, and the delivery of sufficient aid to Gaza, but Israel has not adhered to these provisions.
The plan's second phase also calls for a broader withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip, of which it still controls more than 70 percent, along with the launch of extensive relief operations for the population under the supervision of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, as a prelude to the reconstruction phase.
The position of the resistance
The source emphasized that Hamas insists that, immediately upon signing an agreement guaranteeing the transition to the second phase of the ceasefire, Israel must commit to a complete cessation of all attacks and hostilities against Gaza. Israeli forces must withdraw immediately to the pre-expansion "yellow line," which currently controls 70% of the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, necessary aid must be delivered according to the humanitarian protocol included in the first phase agreement, which stipulates the entry of 600 truckloads of aid daily. The source
stated that a new phase cannot be implemented without the full fulfillment of the preceding phase. He
asserted that Israel recently reneged on clear provisions of US President Donald Trump's plan, under which the first phase agreement was established, particularly regarding the issue of government employees. Israel has refused to allow these employees to remain in their positions, despite the agreement including provisions guaranteeing their continued employment and the retirement of some under a program that ensures their rights.
Upon the delegation's arrival, Taher al-Nunu, media advisor to the head of Hamas, stated that the delegation, headed by Dr. Khalil al-Hayya, aims to finalize negotiations and meet with mediators to solidify the ceasefire and agree on the transition to the second phase.
He emphasized that Hamas is stressing the need to increase aid to the Gaza Strip, complete the implementation of the first phase, and expedite the entry of the agreed-upon National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, especially after the resignation of the previous committee two days prior. He noted that national and governmental preparations have been completed in Gaza for implementation and to facilitate the handover process.
Officials from the resistance factions participating in the talks alongside Hamas affirm that the proposal to "disarm the resistance" is unacceptable. They stated that the factions have presented a formula, accepted by the mediators and Mladenov, based on "inventorying, collecting, and storing weapons," beginning with heavy weapons in the areas from which the Israeli army withdraws. This process will be overseen by the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, formed by the Peace Council, and will not affect light weapons at this stage, which will remain in areas far from Israeli presence according to a specific mechanism.
However, during the latest round of talks, the Israeli side insisted on "disarmament," the handover of tunnels and weapons depots, and the dismantling of the resistance and its formations through the "dismantling" of resistance infrastructure and a complete overhaul of the policies and ideologies of the resistance factions—demands that were rejected.
Furthermore, during previous talks held in Cairo, Hamas demanded that any file related to the reconstruction or relief of Gaza not be linked to the "resistance's weapons," as Israel desired, and that the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza be guaranteed according to the established plan, especially given that past experiences have demonstrated Israel's failure to abide by any agreement.
Gaza Administration
During the current meetings, a source within the movement stated that the Hamas delegation will demand the immediate deployment of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza to the Strip to assume its responsibilities. This follows Hamas's announcement of the dissolution of the Government Action Committee, which had overseen the administration of government sectors in Gaza for the past period.
Nasir al-Nunu, a member of the Hamas delegation in the ceasefire negotiations, emphasized the necessity of fully implementing all provisions of the first phase before moving to the second. He asserted that the recent proposals, based on the Israeli vision for a solution, have effectively reset the process to square one.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem stated that his movement "acted positively and with a high degree of responsibility during the latest round of negotiations." He added that Hamas seeks to reach agreements on all issues "that guarantee an end to the war of extermination against the Palestinian people and the commencement of genuine relief efforts and the reconstruction of all areas of the Gaza Strip." He affirmed that there will be no retreat from the process of handing over all administrative responsibilities for the Gaza Strip to the National Committee, while simultaneously urging all parties to expedite its entry into the Strip to enable it to fulfill its duties in serving the citizens.
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