AJ
⚡️ Hamas held a meeting with Turkey recently garnering support for a Cairo-led ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, during which Hamas Political Bureau Chief Dr. Khalil al-Hayya met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss the latest developments regarding the Palestinian cause, including the ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Cairo.
🔹 According to a statement by Hamas, the meeting with Fidan on Wednesday addressed the occupation’s continued military escalation, daily violations of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, ongoing killings and assassinations, as well as settler crimes and provocations in the West bank, and repeated incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
🔹 The two sides also discussed achieving Palestinian unity, including plans for elections, while Hayya expressed appreciation for Turkiye’s continued efforts to end the suffering of the Palestinian people and halt the occupation’s crimes across the occupied territories.
🔹 Advanced talks began on Thursday in Cairo with Egypt, Qatar and Turkey mediating, as discussions included the disarmament to a third party other than the Palestinian Authority, relinquishing control of Gaza in favour of the International Stabilisation Force (ISF), as well as the possibility of holding a signing ceremony in Egypt within the coming days, due to increased pressure from mediators.
🔹 The roadmap in the negotiations called for the complete disarmament of Gaza, including all weapons, tunnels, and facilities, with Hamas having no role in Gaza, either openly or behind the scenes, a source told i24News, while another source said talks were aimed at finalising a deal, not another round of negotiations, stressing that partial disarmament would not be accepted: “It has to be everything.”
🔹 Another diplomatic source told Times of Israel that talks were showing progress on the disarmament, saying that mediators continue to advance the implementation of the roadmap that offered a balanced and pragmatic path forward, with all weapons decommissioned and a phased transition of responsibilities taking place handing over full authority to the technocratic government.
🔹 The official emphasised that there would be no exceptions for certain weapons or certain people: “One authority, one law, one weapon,” adding that it was a comprehensive process, but if the plan was carried out: “There would be no more terror infrastructure in Gaza once the process is complete.”
🔹 “Hamas will have no role in front or behind any and all weapons, heavy and light, which will be under the full control of the NCAG in coordination with and with the support of the ISF, which is led by a 2-star US Special Forces General,” the official said, referring to the Palestinian technocratic administration and the emerging security force.
🔹 “This is a new beginning for Gaza,” the official concluded: “It has taken a long time to reach this stage, but our guiding light has been President Trump’s Comprehensive Gaza Peace Plan.”
🔹 Barak Ravid, citing four sources familiar with the matter, reported the Board of Peace led by President Trump believed that Hamas would sign an agreement in the coming days to surrender all its weapons to the Board of Peace.
🔹 This arrangement is being heavily pushed by Qatari, Turkish and Egyptian mediators, and it is claimed by Ravid that Hassan Rashad, director of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service, was a key figure behind the alleged agreement.
🔹 Ravid claimed the agreement would also replace the official Palestinian security forces with a Sin Bet-vetted Palestinian police force, giving Israel major influence in the next authority of the Gaza Strip.
🔹 Unsurprisingly, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was not happy with the news that a deal would be signed soon, saying on X: “With Nazis, you only speak through gun sights – and not in any other way.”
🔹 Ben-Gvir continued: “With the devil who has inscribed our destruction on his flag, we are not obligated to stop liquidations of terrorists, nor do we sign deals – not through a third party, not through mediators, and not through any entity, period!”
🔹 The Minister concluded: “After the October 7th massacre, the Prime Minister must clarify even to our best friends: The only solution in Gaza that Israel is willing to be a partner in is encouraging emigration and destroying Hamas – no other solution.”
🔹 However, despite outbursts by the Security Minister, and scepticism from Israeli Knesset members that Hamas would honour any agreement, President Trump took to Truth Social announcing a Gaza deal for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups in the Strip.
🔹 President Trump said that the board of peace had reached an historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups around Gaza, noting that it is a monumental step toward lasting peace and security.
🔹 According to Trump, the agreement is a critical step towards Gaza finally being governed by a new Palestinian government that will work closely with the Board of Peace to help the Palestinian people, adding that Israel will also have the security it deserves, with Gaza no longer used as a base for terror attacks.
🔹 Trump said this is a major milestone in the implementation of the Trump 20-Point Plan, which will be carried out in carefully structured phases, noting that as disarmaments were completed, Israeli forces would withdraw, and the International Stabilisation Force would work with a new Palestinian police force to take responsibility for Gaza being safe for its residents and its neighbours.
🔹 “One year ago there was a violent raging war, humanitarian crisis and hostages being kept in brutal captivity,” Trump wrote, adding that historic progress has been made, but there was still much work to do.
🔹 President Trump thanked Egypt, Qatar, and Turkiye for their important mediation efforts, as well as ‘my outstanding team,’ whose tireless work made the historic breakthrough possible, adding that the threat that emerged from Gaza on October 7 will no be allowed to rebuild, congratulating everyone on the amazing development: “That everybody said could never be achieved.”
🔹 Following Trump’s announcement, a Knesset Member issued a statement saying there was no solution in Gaza and no sign of Hamas surrendering its weapons, warning that they will strive to establish settlements in Gaza: “And this will happen, just as it did in the West Bank,” adding that the voluntary migration plan needed to be implemented and a suitable country found to accept the Gazans.
🔹 A US official told Politico that the Board of Peace were not relying on the trust of any party, stating that progress may be significant on some days and limited on others, but this was a ‘major step forward.’
🔹 The Head of the Peace Council in Gaza said: “What is important is what is included in the agreement, but what happens afterwards is even more important,” adding that Israel’s withdrawal must proceed in sync with the disarmament process.
