Hamas, Mediators Reportedly Agree On Draft To Disarm Group In Exchange For Israel’s Withdrawal From Gaza

Hamas and mediators have agreed on a draft proposal where the group would disarm in exchange for Israel’s withdrawal of the Gaza Strip, according to a new report.

Citing an unnamed Palestinian official, Saudi outlet Al-Arabiya said Hamas “links the issue of the weapons to a full Israeli withdrawal from the Strip.”

However, the report went on to note that analysts believe Nickolay Mladenov, President Donald Trump’s top envoy for the Board of Peace, will reject the conditions.

Negotiations related to the stabilization of the enclave have been largely stalled this year, partly due to the war in Iran.

In fact, none of the five countries that pledged troops for the Gaza Stabilization Force have not followed through with their promises to send troops to the enclave.

The Associated Press noted in late May that efforts to form the force have largely stalled as Hamas has refused to disarm, accusing Israel of not abiding by its side of the agreement and continue conducting strikes in the territory.

The outlet went on to detail that Indonesia’s commitment to contribute 8,000 troops to the force has been postponed indefinitely as the war between the U.S., Israel and Iran began in late February. Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said the country had not received “any implementation guidelines” and “new dynamics have emerged.”

Indonesia’s was the largest commitment to the force. Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Albania also pledged troops. However, none have sent any troops.

The Board of Peace has placed the blame for the lack of progress on Hamas’ refusal to disarm. The body said earlier this month that it wants to begin its plan for the governance and reconstruction of Gaza in the areas that are not controlled by the group.

Axios detailed that the 20-point plan to achieve peace in the enclave contemplates a provision allowing the board to advance in areas not controlled by Hamas if a scenario like the current one takes place.

The outlet added that the U.S. has told Israel it does not support resuming the war to deal with the stalemate. Israel currently controls over half of Gaza.

Hamas, which was supposed to give up its heavy weapons and tunnel system in the first step of the agreement, said it won’t do it until Israel abides by its own obligation, including maintaining agreed-upon levels of humanitarian aid and stopping strikes in the enclave.

Mladenov said the body wants to get the Palestinian technocratic government, which has been working in Cairo, to move into the parts of Gaza not controlled by Hamas. It also wants to begin reconstruction there and deploy an International Stabilization Force, as well as a new Palestinian police force that will be trained in Egypt. The technocratic government would later encourage Palestinians to move to the new areas, even though Hamas members have been trying to prevent that.