Arya News - The US is considering disarming Hamas gradually over a two-year period using a process inspired by IRA weapons decommissioning, it has been reported.
The US is considering disarming Hamas gradually over a two-year period using a process inspired by IRA weapons decommissioning, it has been reported.
Israeli sources say officials are privately concerned after American negotiators appeared to accept proposals by Turkey and Qatar to disarm Hamas slowly.
Both countries, accused by Israel of supporting the terror group, have stepped up pressure for a clear pathway to the second phase of Donald Trump’s deal , ahead of an expected announcement in Washington this month.
According to a report in Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel believes the Turkey-Qatar proposals, to which the US has signalled its agreement, for a gradual disarmament process, are in practice a smokescreen to keep Hamas armed.
It follows a statement by Bassem Naim, a Hamas political bureau member, on Sunday, that the group would be open to discussing “freezing or storing” its arsenal.
The matter is expected to come to a head when Benjamin Netanyahu visits Mr Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Dec 29.
Sir Keir Starmer told Parliament in October that Britain stood ready to use its experience of helping bring the Troubles to an end to the situation in Gaza.
Jonathan Powell, his national security adviser, played a key role in the Northern Ireland peace process as Sir Tony Blair’s chief of staff.
He quietly wielded significant influence in helping to formulate ideas that became Mr Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza .
Details remain unclear
As well as a proposed two-year timeline for ridding Hamas of its weapons – in contrast to Israel’s preferred timeline of a few months – negotiators are also reportedly coalescing around the idea of weapons “decommissioning” rather than straightforward disarming. The precise details in the case of Gaza are not clear.
Under the IRA decommissioning model, which took place over several years following the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, weapons were handed over and stored under British supervision.
Under the still undecided Gaza model, Hamas should not have access to its weapons.
However, Israeli officials are voicing concern about any scenario which, in practice, leaves the terror group with access to its guns.
Mr Trump has indicated that he would announce the governing bodies of post-war Gaza within weeks as well as more detail on so-called “phase two” of his deal, after weeks of apparent paralysis.
Allies of Sir Tony confirmed to the Financial Times on Monday that he was out of the running to sit on the board.
Sir Tony Blair will sit on an executive committee, subordinate to the Board of Peace - Dan Kitwood/2024 Getty Images
The former prime minister was the only person mentioned by Mr Trump when he announced the concept back in October, prompting some disquiet in the Arab and Muslim world, given his support for the 2003 Iraq invasion and his underwhelming record as Middle East peace envoy for the Quartet after leaving Downing Street.
The Board of Peace now looks set to comprise current heads of government, a way of locking in support from Middle East, and potentially European countries.
It was reported on Friday that Sir Tony would sit on an executive committee , subordinate to the Board of Peace, which would have a more practical role in the running of post-war Gaza, alongside Jared Kushner, Mr Trump’s son-in-law, and Steve Witkoff, his Middle East envoy.
Surveillance row
Meanwhile, a surveillance row is reportedly brewing within the new multinational headquarters in Israel set up in October to support the ceasefire.
The US commander of the Civil-Military Coordination Centre in Kiryat Gat reportedly intervened and ordered the Israelis to stop recording – including in some instances covert recording – of discussions.
The centre is mainly a US-Israeli headquarters intended to monitor the fragile ceasefire with Hamas but also put together practical plans for Gaza’s reconstruction and future security.
Other nations, including Britain, have seconded military officers and diplomats to the base.
The Guardian reported that Lt Gen Patrick Frank, the American commander of the headquarters, told an Israeli counterpart that “recording has to stop here”.
The IDF described any suggestion that they were gathering intelligence on their partners as “absurd”.
“The IDF documents and summarises meetings in which it is present through protocols, as any professional organisation of this nature does in a transparent and agreed upon manner,” it said.
A final deceased hostage remains in the Strip, and it is possible that Israel will insist that phase two does not commence until he is returned.
Police Sergeant Ran Gvili was murdered on October 7, having battled against Hamas gunmen, killing several.
David Zini, the director of Israel’s Shin Bet internal security service, reportedly met officials in Cairo last week to review intelligence which could point to the location of Gvili’s remains.
It came amid reports that Israel had privately suggested it could be willing to countenance a role for the Palestinian Authority in post-war Gaza, providing Gazans and Palestinians were stripped of their refugee status and there was no role for the United Nations bodies currently supporting them.
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