Hamas officials cite “progress” in Gaza ceasefire talks

Two officials from Hamas said in separate statements that “progress and acceptable approaches” have been achieved on key disputed issues in negotiations over a fragile Gaza ceasefire agreement originally announced in October last year.

According to three Palestinian sources cited by Asharq Al-Awsat, representatives of Palestinian factions meeting in Cairo, together with mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye, have agreed on what they described as “appropriate formulations” to address unresolved questions related to weapons.

The sources said there was consensus on language that “clearly indicates restricting the circulation and storage of weapons, rather than their surrender, with confirmation that they will be under the authority of an agreed Palestinian party and will not be handed over to any other party under the supervision and subsequent monitoring by the mediator countries and a representative of international stability forces subordinate to the Peace Council.”

They added that the mechanism “will be carried out in stages and according to a timetable directly linked to the withdrawal of Israeli forces and Israel’s implementation of the provisions it has not yet fulfilled.”

The sources also emphasised that any formal announcement of the agreement “will be made only after its terms are agreed with Israel and the US administration.”

By Tamilla Hasanova