Hamas to be given 3 months to surrender heavy weapons, reveal terror tunnels – report

Hamas was presented with a disarmament plan requiring the terror group to surrender heavy weapons and locations of its terror tunnels over a three-month period.

By World Israel News Staff

Mediators involved in brokering talks with the Hamas terror organization have presented the group with the latest proposal for the implementation of the second phase of the Trump administration’s Gaza peace plan, multiple news outlets reported on Friday.

The plan was presented to Hamas during a meeting in Cairo earlier this month.

The proposal focuses on the disarmament of Hamas, offering a multistage approach to the organization’s demilitarization.

According to a report by The Times of Israel, which cited two Arab diplomats, Hamas will be given 90 days to surrender its arsenal of heavy weaponry, including rockets, missiles, and rocket launchers.

In addition, Hamas will be required to submit maps for all of its tunnels across the Gaza Strip.

Aside from the dismantling of Hamas’ arsenal of heavy weapons, the Board of Peace will operate a buy-back program, encouraging Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza – including Israel-aligned militias – to sell their small arms.

One Arab diplomat cited by the Times said that the buy-back program is expected to take significantly longer to complete than the 90-day heavy weapons program.

Hamas has reportedly expressed openness to handing over its heavy weapons while insisting that the group retain its light arms, including assault rifles.

The light arms purchased from Hamas through the buy-back program would likely be used to arm a future Palestinian security force tasked with policing the Gaza Strip, the report said.

While the new proposal contradicts Israel’s long-standing demands, including that Hamas’ disarmament include a mandatory handing over of all weapons, Israel reportedly did not object to the draft submitted to Hamas.

Israel is said to have been aware of the proposal but chose to ignore it, based on the estimate that Hamas will ultimately refuse demands for the group to disarm.