Talks on disarming Hamas have not begun, proposal to freeze arms for truce would be rejected: mediator

A US-Palestinian mediator close to President Donald Trump has said a proposed years-long truce by Hamas – under which the group would "freeze" its arms – would likely be rejected, while negotiations on disarming the group have yet to begin.

Bishara Bahbah, head of Arab Americans for Peace, formerly known as Arab Americans for Trump, said Hamas had told him it was prepared to discuss surrendering its weapons, but only if guarantees were provided to protect both Gazan civilians and Hamas fighters.

No such guarantees have been offered, he said.

"No negotiations on Hamas' disarmament have taken place yet, and I find this strange," Bahbah told UAE-based Sky News Arabia Sunday night.

"It has been four months since the October ceasefire – why hasn’t this issue been discussed with Hamas?"

Bahbah said he had repeatedly informed American mediators of Hamas' willingness to negotiate and was told that talks had started, but these claims were contradicted by Hamas.

Under the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, all militant groups in Gaza are required to disarm, while Israel is obligated to fully withdraw from the enclave.

Implementation of the agreement has been slow, and Israeli attacks have killed around 500 Palestinians since the ceasefire took effect. UNICEF says 37 children have been killed since the start of this year alone.

According to Bahbah, disarming Hamas would require four steps: removing the group’s heavy weaponry, preventing arms smuggling into Gaza, halting domestic weapons manufacturing, and resolving the issue of underground tunnels.

On Monday, the Israeli military said it had killed four militants who allegedly attacked its forces after emerging from a tunnel in southern Gaza.

Hamas said in late November that dozens of its fighters were sheltering in tunnels beneath areas still occupied by Israeli troops, an issue that became a major point of contention early in the ceasefire talks. Israel argued the fighters posed a security threat, while Hamas demanded safe passage for them.

5-to-10-year truce

Bahbah said one proposal involved integrating Hamas fighters into a future Gaza security force after training in Qatar, Jordan, or Egypt. However, the proposal was never formally presented at the negotiating table.

The ceasefire agreement also calls for the establishment of a Palestinian internal police force in Gaza and the deployment of an International Security Force (ISF) as Israeli troops withdraw.

Israel has rejected any future role for Hamas in governing post-war Gaza and has also refused to involve the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, which has limited power in the occupied territory.

A technocratic committee will manage Gaza’s affairs until the PA undergoes reforms, according to the ceasefire.

Hamas had reportedly proposed locking away its weapons for five to ten years in exchange for a ceasefire guaranteed by the ISF once it is formed. Bahbah said he believes Washington would reject such a deal.

"A five- or ten-year truce means there will be no opportunity to establish a Palestinian state," he said, adding that maintaining Hamas' role would undermine prospects for Palestinian sovereignty.

Bahbah said Hamas must hand over its weapons to an Arab state, after which some of its fighters could be incorporated into a Palestinian security force. He warned that a prolonged truce would only give Hamas a political lifeline and prolong the crisis.

Deploying an international security force in Gaza, he said, would be essential and would ultimately "force" Israel to withdraw.