The implementation of the Hamas disarmament agreement remains in doubt

Barak Ravid, in his article in Axios, points out that despite rosy promises, the implementation of the agreement remains in question. The fulfillment of its terms depends on the mutual steps of the parties, and neither Israel, nor Hamas and other Palestinian groups express readiness to deviate from their demands.

According to the plan, the disarmament process will take about 200-250 days and will take place in stages. First, Hamas police will hand over weapons to the new Palestinian police, subordinate to the technocratic government. Heavy weapons will then be taken out of service and placed in secure warehouses, after which the destruction of tunnels and weapons production facilities will begin. Small arms and light weapons will be confiscated in accordance with Palestinian law.

The document also stipulates that all armed groups in Gaza, including those supported by Israel during the war, will have to surrender their weapons. Monitoring the implementation of obligations will be carried out by an independent international mechanism, and after the completion of the process, the exclusive right to use force will remain with the new technocratic government and the police subordinate to it.

To ensure the implementation of the agreement, it is planned to deploy international stabilization forces. They will train a new Palestinian police force, facilitate the collection of weapons and act as a buffer between Palestinian security forces and the Israeli army.

At the same time, Israel will have to gradually withdraw troops from the Gaza Strip according to a schedule that is still being agreed upon. According to Trump’s statement, the troop withdrawal will occur as the disarmament of Hamas is completed and security functions are transferred to international forces and the new Palestinian police. It is also expected that Israeli military operations and targeted liquidations will cease, except in cases of immediate threat.

It is precisely with regard to the gradualism that doubts remain: Hamas representative Ghazi Hamad, in an interview with Al Jazeera, said that the organization will not begin disarmament until the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip. According to him, the disarmament process should take place under the control of a new technocratic government without the participation of Israel.

Islamic Jihad stated that it completely rejects any disarmament agreements.

Israel, in turn, emphasizes that a complete withdrawal of troops from the Gaza Strip is possible only after the complete disarmament of terrorist groups.