Palestinian Factions Negotiate in Cairo: Hamas Rejects Disarmament

Palestinian sources involved in intensive meetings in Cairo have revealed that the issue of resistance group weaponry remains the main obstacle preventing a final agreement between Palestinian factions and regional mediators. According to one faction source who spoke to Al-Jazeera on condition of anonymity, 14 of the 15 points listed in the draft roadmap have actually been agreed upon, both by the Palestinian factions and by the mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, as reported by the Palestine Chronicle. The sole remaining disagreement now centres on Clause 8, which regulates the future of resistance group weapons in the Gaza Strip. The source stated that the Islamic resistance movement Hamas and one other participating faction rejected the amended formula clause proposed by Egypt during the negotiations. The proposed text stipulates that resistance group weaponry will be inventoried and collected gradually. This process is planned to proceed according to an agreed schedule under Palestinian leadership, involving armed organisations as well as several committees formed under the framework. Three main Hamas objections: The source explained that Hamas rejects granting additional responsibilities to the international stabilisation force, particularly any role related to security management or handling the weapons dossier. Based on Hamas’s official stance, the mandate of the international force must remain limited to separating forces and operating in the border region, in accordance with previously agreed understandings. The second objection is that Hamas rejects the use of the term ‘infrastructure’ when associated with resistance groups. The source stated that Hamas considers the term too broad and open to interpretation, raising concerns that it could include civilian facilities, logistical warehouses, hospitals, and transport assets. Meanwhile, the third objection relates to the use of diction referring to the ‘collection’ of weapons or ‘demilitarisation’ (disarmament). Hamas is reportedly insistent on using the phrase ‘handling the weapons dossier’ and firmly rejects any formulation that explicitly mentions disarmament or weapons collection.