The deadline set by the Gaza Board of Peace for Hamas to accept a disarmament proposal expired Thursday
By Bernie,
The deadline set by the Gaza Board of Peace for Hamas to accept a disarmament proposal expired Thursday with no agreement reached. Nickolay Mladenov, the Board's High Representative for Gaza, met with Hamas representatives in Turkey on Thursday to receive the group's formal response.
Hamas has so far refused to surrender its weapons to Gaza's National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, a condition tied directly to the broader ceasefire agreement. The disarmament plan, first presented to Hamas nearly four weeks ago, envisions the destruction of the group's tunnel network and a phased handover of all weapons over an eight-month period, concluding with a full Israeli withdrawal upon verification that Gaza is free of weaponry.
Senior Hamas officials have signaled firm opposition in recent days. Senior Hamas leader Khaled Mashal previously declared that the group would not surrender its arms or accept foreign intervention in Gaza. At the Cairo meeting last week, Hamas officials refrained from outright rejecting the proposal but did not accept it either.
Israel said it is preparing to resume combat operations in Gaza should Hamas maintain its refusal. The New York Times reported earlier this week that the deadline represented a final opportunity for Hamas to submit its position. Israeli intelligence assessments indicate that Hamas remains operational, continues to rearm, and is rebuilding underground infrastructure during the current transitional period.
Topics: Gaza, Diplomacy
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