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Talks in Cairo between mediators, US officials and Hamas on a disarmament plan are expected to continue this week, Ynet reported.
A US official said a decision is expected within days: “We will know whether there is voluntary disarmament or by force.”
Ynet reported that the proposal envisioned full disarmament over six to eight months, starting with heavy weapons and rocket production facilities, followed by tunnel destruction and surrender of small arms.
Oversight would be provided by a combined Palestinian security and international stabilisation force, but the latter has been delayed due to the war with Iran.
Approximately $7 billion in reconstruction pledges have been secured, but funds will not be released until disarmament begins, which is a condition that Hamas rejects, citing it as one of the reasons it refuses to disarm, because some Hamas leaders view disarmament as surrender.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday: “We will deal with it,” referring to Hamas, while Israeli Army Radio noted that Netanyahu is preparing the ground for the next front – Hamas in Gaza – admitting that Hamas is far from being dismantled.
