Palestinian Sources Say Hamas Weapons Will Be Collected and Stored, Not Handed Over

An attempt to assassinate Mohammed Odeh, the new head of Hamas' military wing / Maariv Three Palestinian sources told the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday that what they described as “agreed formulas” had been reached between representatives of the factions who met in Cairo and mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, regarding the disputed issues, especially those concerning weapons, as well as the need to commit to full implementation of all clauses simultaneously and within a comprehensive agreement, not partially.

A Hamas source and two other sources from two different factions told the Saudi newspaper that the 15 clauses appearing in the roadmap presented last April by the U.S. representative for Gaza to the Peace Council, Nikolay Mladenov, had been formulated and adopted. According to them, this also includes the wording related to the eighth clause, which deals with weapons.

The three sources explained that the wording “clearly indicates the concentration and storage of the weapons, not their surrender,” emphasizing that the weapons will be under the responsibility of an agreed Palestinian body and will not be handed over to any other party, and will be under the supervision and monitoring of the mediating countries and a representative of the international stabilization force of the Peace Council.

By contrast, the Saudi channel Al Hadath reported that Hamas did not agree to the wording presented by the mediators regarding the surrender of weapons. According to the report, the mediators continue their efforts to salvage the Gaza agreement and reach a solution to the issue of the organization’s disarmament.

As for the tunnels and sites for manufacturing various types of weapons, the sources explained that the issue was discussed and clear understandings were reached to ensure that they would not be used, alongside the creation of another mechanism to guarantee this. The sources added: “The process will take place in stages and according to a timetable tied first and foremost to Israel’s withdrawal and its fulfillment of its commitments under the clauses that have not yet been implemented.”

They noted that the agreement also depends on “accelerating the entry of the technocrats committee to manage Gaza into the Strip so that it can assume its powers, disarm the armed gangs, which are alleged to be cooperating with Israel, and implement the comprehensive humanitarian protocol relating to the first phase.”