Hamas disarmament to take six months – report

Gaza’s technocratic administrative committee to present Hamas with disarmament plan next month, calling for a phased handover of weapons over the course of half a year.

By World Israel News Staff

The Palestinian committee tasked by the US-backed Board of Peace with administering the Gaza Strip is expected to present a comprehensive disarmament plan to the Hamas terror organization next month, according to a report published by Israel Hayom on Monday.

The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, a 15-member committee appointed by Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, is currently ironing out the details of the disarmament program.

The basic principles, however, have already been established, including the requirement that all armed groups disarm, including Islamist terror groups such as Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Resistance Committees, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and Jaysh al-Islam, along with militias aligned with Israel, such as the Popular Forces.

The disarmament process will take place in stages over six months, with the initial stages focusing on heavy weaponry, while so-called “light weapons,” such as assault rifles, will be required to be handed in at the end of the process.

The early stages of the disarmament program will also include the mapping out and demolishing Hamas’ extensive tunnel networks.

According to Monday’s report, Hamas will be required at the beginning of the process to provide detailed maps of its tunnel network.

The deployment of foreign peacekeeping forces under the aegis of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) will be contingent on Hamas agreeing to and demonstrating compliance with the disarmament program, the report said.

Muslim countries that have expressed interest in providing soldiers for the ISF told the Board of Peace they will not participate until the threat of military confrontation between the ISF and Hamas has been removed.