Cairo / PNN /
Informed sources told Sky News Arabia on Wednesday that the recent meetings in Cairo focused on the issue of Hamas’ weapons.
On Tuesday, delegations from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey—acting as mediators for the Gaza ceasefire agreement alongside the United States—met in Cairo to discuss the second phase of the agreement, with a key point being the “disarmament of Hamas.”
According to Sky News Arabia sources, the Cairo meetings considered a proposal allowing Hamas fighters to temporarily retain only light weapons. These weapons would later be handed over to a security force expected to be deployed across Gaza.
The discussions also addressed the possibility of integrating some personnel from non-Hamas security agencies into this new force.
Earlier, Cairo News reported that the meeting included the heads of Egyptian and Turkish intelligence and the Prime Minister of Qatar, discussing “ways to intensify joint efforts with the United States to successfully implement the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement” between Israel and Hamas.
Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United States act as mediators and guarantors of the agreement, which went into effect on October 10 after two years of war.
The Cairo meeting followed a high-level Hamas delegation meeting with Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad two days earlier to discuss the second phase, which includes disarming Hamas, establishing a transitional authority, and deploying an international force to maintain stability in Gaza.
The Tuesday talks also focused on “overcoming obstacles and containing violations to ensure the ceasefire holds.” Israel and Hamas have repeatedly accused each other of breaches, and according to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israeli military operations have killed over 300 Palestinians since the ceasefire began.
Mediators agreed to “continue strengthening coordination and cooperation with the Civil-Military Coordination Center,” established by the United States and its allies in southern Israel to monitor the ceasefire.
Hamas sources revealed that leaders inside and outside Gaza have been discussing the movement’s political future in light of the new realities imposed by the two-year Israeli war that began with the October 7, 2023 attack.
According to sources speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, who requested anonymity, some Hamas leaders have proposed creating a political party modeled after existing Islamic-nationalist political groups, presenting itself as capable of participating in political, economic, social, and civic life while distancing the movement from its military wing.
The proposal also calls for a comprehensive Palestinian reconciliation to protect this project, including participation in the Palestine Liberation Organization and restructuring it through a national agreement that allows inclusive participation, restores the Palestinian political system’s presence, and opens channels for engagement with Arab, Islamic, and international actors, turning Hamas into an influential political player independent of its weapons.
Sources confirmed that this proposal has been submitted to Hamas’ political office, Shura Council, supreme leadership council, and other internal bodies. These discussions are part of a broader review by the movement of its post-war status, political positions, internal and external realities, the impact of leadership assassinations, and the implications of the Sharm El-Sheikh ceasefire agreement in October.
