Senior Hamas officials have confirmed that a deal reached with Israel to end the war includes provisions addressing the group's weapons and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. The agreement, reached after lengthy and difficult negotiations, is a significant step towards ending the conflict.
The thorny issue of Hamas's disarmament has been a key sticking point in advancing the ceasefire deal that has been in place since October. Despite the ceasefire, daily violence has continued in Gaza, with Israeli strikes targeting what the military describes as Hamas militants.
A Hamas official stated, "An agreement has been reached regarding the issue of weapons... Furthermore, an agreement has been reached on a gradual withdrawal of (Israeli forces) from the strip." The official added that Hamas expects mediators and the US President's Board of Peace to ensure Israel complies with the terms of the deal.
Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas's negotiating team, explained that the issue of the group's weapons is tied to Israel's withdrawal, the deployment of the National Committee, and reconstruction work in the territory. "Israel will not intervene in the issue of disarmament. The National Committee is the body that will undertake this task," he said.
The National Committee for Administration of Gaza (NCAG) will manage and execute the cataloguing and storage of weapons in accordance with the agreed timetable. The NCAG, established by the Board of Peace, has yet to enter the Gaza Strip.
Hamad noted that the agreement addresses ending the war, the entry of the NCAG into Gaza, the Israeli withdrawal, reconstruction, and the deployment of international forces. "This is an integrated framework whose components must remain interconnected," he added.
Hamas announced the dissolution of its governing body in Gaza earlier this month, paving the way for the NCAG to implement civilian rule. This move marks a significant political shift by Hamas, which has run Gaza since 2007.
