The Islamic Resistance Movement is currently discussing the selection of a new head for its delegation negotiating a ceasefire agreement with mediators, replacing Dr. Khalil al-Hayya, who was elected head of the movement's political bureau a few days ago. Meanwhile, Israel continues to delay its response to the latest proposals from the "Peace Council" regarding the development of the ceasefire agreement.
A Hamas source explained that, according to established procedures, al-Hayya will dedicate himself to leading the movement and overseeing its various departments in his capacity as head of the political bureau, similar to his previous role. Al-Hayya headed the negotiating delegation when Ismail Haniyeh was head of the political bureau, then after Yahya Sinwar assumed leadership of the movement, and subsequently under the leadership of a five-member council headed by Mohammed Darwish, the head of the Shura Council.
Israel has not yet responded to the latest ceasefire proposals.
The source stated that Haniyeh will relinquish his leadership of the negotiating delegation and oversight of the entire process, given his position as head of the movement. Another leader will assume the leadership of the movement in the Gaza Strip, a position he held until his selection as head of the General Political Bureau.
The source added that the movement is leaning towards choosing one of two of its leaders: Zaher Jabarin, head of the movement in the West Bank, or Dr. Basem Naim, a member of the Political Bureau and a leader in the movement from the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, members of the General Shura Council are proposing the name of prominent leader Nizar Awadallah to head the delegation. Awadallah was a member of the movement's five-member leadership council before Haniyeh assumed the leadership. The source
anticipated that this would be announced during the next round of ceasefire talks between the movement and the three mediators, when the movement sends its delegation headed by the new leader.
The source noted that both Jabarin and Naim had previously participated alongside Haniyeh in ceasefire negotiations. Jabarin had previously headed the movement's delegation in the penultimate round of talks when Haniyeh was absent due to organizational reasons, and Naim has been a key member of the Hamas negotiating delegation since the talks began.
He pointed out that the movement’s leadership, after the election of Haniyeh as head of the political bureau, began holding meetings in Istanbul, Turkey, where the movement’s most prominent leaders are located, to discuss several important issues.
delayed response
Regarding the latest developments in the ceasefire talks, the source explained that Hamas has not received any positive response from Israel through mediators to the latest proposals submitted, for which a response was expected by Wednesday.
He indicated that the Hamas delegation, which left Cairo last week after holding talks with the three mediators (Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey), as well as meetings with UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nikolay Mladenov, was informed by the Council's representative that an Israeli response was expected within days. The delegation was told that if the response arrived, they would return to Cairo on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week.
During the latest round of talks, the Hamas delegation discussed with the mediators, and then with Mladenov, the movement's proposals regarding the latest paper presented by the Peace Council for moving to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement. This came after Israel's negative responses, which effectively reset the talks to square one, due to its positions on the issues of weapons and employees. A
Hamas source had that the movement had submitted positive responses to the paper, with some reservations, especially since its initial position in the previous meeting with Mladenov had been accepted by the Peace Council representative and the mediators.
The source confirmed that Hamas's position was based on agreeing to link the implementation of the remaining aspects of the first phase of the agreement—which Israel continues to obstruct—to moving to the second phase, provided there are guarantees obligating Israel to implement the agreement according to a specific timetable.
The source indicated that Hamas and the factions participating with it in the negotiations are ready to sign the new agreement immediately, but requested, after the penultimate round of talks with the mediators present, that Mladenov ensure the new agreement's implementation coincides with a complete cessation of Israeli attacks on Gaza and the lifting of the blockade. The humanitarian protocol calls for an immediate Israeli withdrawal from the areas it has expanded beyond the "yellow line," including withdrawal from the occupied territories in the Gaza Strip, according to the terms of the second phase.
Hamas and other resistance factions submitted comments on Mladenov's paper, agreeing to "the inventory, collection, and storage of weapons" instead of the term "disarmament" demanded by Israel. This would begin with heavy weapons, without affecting personal firearms, and would preserve the rights of employees in Gaza. In contrast, Israel, in its latest responses, demanded "disarmament" of all types of weapons and rejected the continued presence of civilian employees and police personnel appointed during Hamas's rule of the Strip.
In the latest round of talks held last week, several points in Mladenov's paper saw progress, with agreement reached with the mediators. However, everyone is still awaiting Israel's response on the remaining points of contention.
But the source warned of “Israeli stalling tactics,” which employ devious methods to perpetuate massacres, daily killings, and assassinations in Gaza, noting that continuous contacts are taking place between the movement and mediators to keep them informed of developments on the ground, especially since the occupation army has escalated its attacks on Gaza after the recent talks, despite promises that a response is imminent.
Fatah warning
In this context, Munther al-Hayek, spokesperson for the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah), stated that Israeli actions on the ground, most recently the plan to construct 23 kilometers of earthen berms and trenches extending into the Gaza Strip and separating the eastern and western parts of the Strip, confirm the occupation's refusal to move to the second phase and its desire to remain in the eastern areas for as long as possible, in line with plans to build Israeli settlements in the northern Gaza Strip.
In statements to Voice of Palestine radio, he pointed to the emergence of a new term: the plan to "separate eastern Gaza from western Gaza," warning against these plans and their exploitation in Israeli election propaganda.
He explained that these steps are an implementation of the "free passage" plan and statements by the head of the occupation government, Benjamin Netanyahu, in which he declared that the "yellow line" is the border of the State of Israel, thus forcing Palestinians to live in harsh conditions, without access to hospitals or education.
The Fatah spokesperson launched an attack on the "Peace Council," describing it as a "Council of Occupation," and accusing the US administration of failing to solidify the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. He asserted that the occupation continues to obstruct the implementation of the second phase of the agreement, seeking to impose a new settlement reality and further divide the Gaza Strip.
Al-Hayek warned against prolonging the war on Gaza, as this would allow the occupation to tighten its grip on the Strip. He also cautioned against the plans Israel intends to implement in Rafah, including the establishment of humanitarian zones there. He emphasized that confronting these plans requires more than simply "singing praises of steadfastness," but rather ending the internal Palestinian division and achieving national unity to confront the occupation.
