Gaza plan progresses.. Preliminary approval for resolving militias in exchange for handing over heavy weapons

Gaza —
Informed sources revealed new progress in the ongoing negotiations regarding the future of the Gaza Strip, after the latest proposal presented by the “Global Peace Council” included approval of a number of key Palestinian demands, in exchange for the commitment of the Palestinian factions to hand over heavy weapons within a gradual mechanism supervised by specialized bodies.

The proposed understandings include the dissolution of armed groups formed during the war, alongside the implementation of the remaining part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, including military withdrawals, opening crossings, and facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid.

According to the circulated proposals, personal weapons will be allowed to remain with faction members within the framework of local law, while heavy weapons will be collected and handed over through a joint committee comprising representatives of the factions, the Gaza Management Committee, and the international stabilization forces planned to be deployed in the Strip.

These developments come after intensive discussions about the fate of armed groups that emerged during the war in various areas of the Strip, which Palestinian parties accuse of operating under the protection of the Israeli army and participating in security operations that included arrests, assassinations, and obstructing the arrival of humanitarian aid.

Information indicates that the Palestinian factions considered the dissolution of these groups a fundamental condition before embarking on any arrangements related to the monopoly of weapons or reorganizing the security situation inside Gaza.

At the same time, consultations continue regarding the formation of the Gaza Management Committee, which will take over the management of public institutions and oversee law enforcement during the transitional phase, alongside the deployment of an international stabilization force expected to undertake security support tasks and supervise the implementation of the understandings.

The parties are also discussing executive mechanisms related to reconstruction, managing crossings, and restoring basic services, within a broader plan aimed at ending the war and rebuilding governance institutions in the Strip.

Observers believe that the Global Peace Council’s approval of a number of Palestinian demands represents an important step towards narrowing the gaps of disagreement, but the success of the plan remains linked to the parties’ ability to reach a final understanding on the most sensitive security files, foremost among them weapons, the future of armed groups, and mechanisms for implementing the agreement on the ground.

Hamas and the Palestinian factions continue to study the latest proposals, amid intensive efforts by mediators to push the negotiations towards a comprehensive agreement that opens the door to a new phase in the Gaza Strip after long months of war and destruction.