Al Jazeera has obtained details of a plan submitted by Board of Peace Director General Nickolay Mladenov for the disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian groups in Gaza. The plan, part of the October ceasefire to end Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza that began in October 2023, would be implemented gradually over an eight-month, multiphase process in exchange for Israel fulfilling its obligations, including allowing reconstruction materials and increasing humanitarian aid into the enclave. The proposal also envisions the transfer of the territory’s administration to a Palestinian national committee.
Mladenov referenced the plan in general terms in a speech to the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, stating it had been “presented to relevant armed groups” and urging them to accept the framework “without delay.” However, disarmament remains a contentious issue, as Israel has continued attacks during the ceasefire, killing hundreds of Palestinians, and has not stopped restricting aid, driving up prices and leaving many displaced and unable to afford basic items. Hamas has repeatedly refused to give up arms while Israel’s occupation persists.
The plan operates on a step-by-step formula, with transitions between phases only occurring once both sides meet their commitments. The first phase (initial two weeks) would see a complete cessation of military operations and implementation of humanitarian protocols. The second phase (days 16-60) represents the core of the plan, with Hamas and other factions cooperating to remove heavy weapons from Israeli-controlled areas initially, and from Hamas-controlled areas by day 90. Hamas would also destroy its tunnel network within this period.
In the third phase, Israeli forces would gradually withdraw to Gaza’s perimeters after a monitoring committee determines Palestinian factions have been disarmed. Security forces answerable to the national committee would gather weapons, a task to be completed by day 251. If achieved, Israel would withdraw from Gaza except for an undefined security perimeter “until Gaza is secured… from the potential for a return of any terrorist threat.” Full reconstruction would be permitted, and restrictions on “dual-use materials” like concrete and fuel would be lifted.
If implemented, the plan would mark an end to the war and Hamas’s nearly two-decade rule in Gaza. However, significant stumbling blocks remain, including whether the Israeli regime is truly prepared to withdraw, fulfill its commitments, and not attempt to spoil any deal as it has previously. Hamas and other Palestinian factions are deeply skeptical of Israel’s adherence to any agreement and view disarmament as a surrender of national resistance, with experts warning the plan effectively means Hamas’s “political surrender.” The Board of Peace, created by former US President Donald Trump, oversees Gaza’s administration, adding another layer of complexity to the proposal’s prospects.
Source: www.aljazeera.com