Israel Opposes Peace Council's Gaza Disarmament Plan Amid Ongoing Hamas Talks

Israel has expressed opposition to a disarmament plan promoted by the Peace Council in negotiations with Hamas, according to a report on Thursday evening by Kan News. A diplomatic source described the process as one that would end with no weapons or tunnels remaining in Gaza. However, an Israeli official insisted that full disarmament of Hamas is a precondition for any agreement. Despite these differences, significant progress has been made, though it remains uncertain if a deal is imminent. Notably, Nikolay Mladenov, the Peace Council's director, is currently not in Egypt, where talks are taking place.

Contradicting earlier reports, an informed source confirmed that Gaza was indeed discussed during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Israeli sources report ongoing preparations for Gaza's post-conflict reconstruction, including debris removal operations at a new site in the Strip.

Regional mediators, including Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, are reportedly exerting strong pressure on Hamas to sign the agreement, which includes surrendering its weapons. Egypt is said to be the most forceful among these countries. Mediators have conveyed to Hamas that the group has no better alternative to maintain its position. The United Arab Emirates is monitoring developments closely and has indicated readiness to invest significantly in Gaza's reconstruction, particularly in the Green City area near Rafah, contingent on Hamas disarmament.

Earlier on Thursday, the Peace Council announced progress in talks to dismantle Hamas's military capabilities, stating that the final agreement would leave Hamas without any governing role in Gaza. The roadmap includes dismantling all weapons, destroying tunnels, weapons caches, and production facilities. Following the announcement, a diplomatic source clarified that Gaza was not discussed in Netanyahu's U.S. meetings and reiterated Israel's firm stance that it will not retreat from its red lines before Hamas is fully disarmed.