The disarmament proposal presented to Hamas by Gaza ceasefire mediators this week in Cairo envisions all armed groups in the Strip gradually handing over their weapons over the coming months, two Arab diplomats familiar with the matter told The Times of Israel on Friday.

The proposal requires Hamas to — within 90 days — hand over its heavy weaponry, such as missiles and rocket launchers, in addition to maps of its tunnel network.

A buy-back program would also offer jobs and funds to armed group members who agree to hand over their personal weapons, though, that process is expected to take longer than the initial three-month timeline given for heavy weaponry, the first Arab diplomat said.

While Hamas negotiators have expressed willingness in talks with Arab mediators to hand over the terror group’s heavy weapons, they have insisted on maintaining lighter weapons, arguing that they are necessary for self-defense, the Arab diplomat added.

Details of the disarmament proposal were first published by the National Public Radio, The New York Times, and Haaretz.

The proposal envisions the weapons being handed over to the yet-to-be-formed Palestinian police. The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), which is supposed to replace Hamas in governing Gaza, began recruitment for the new police force last month.

Palestinians who previously served as Hamas civil servants have been allowed to apply to the new police force, but they will have to undergo Israeli vetting in order to be approved, the first Arab diplomat said, adding that those who Israel says were involved in Hamas’s October 7 onslaught may not be granted immunity.

The weapon handover........

© The Times of Israel