Disagreements between Israel and the US on one side and Hamas and the mediators on the other are currently preventing the completion of an agreement for the terrorist organization to surrender its weapons. This is despite a surprising breakthrough in which Hamas agreed, at least in principle, to hand over its arms according to a predetermined timetable.
Under the draft being advanced by the mediators, all of Hamas' heavy weapons, including mortars, shoulder-fired missiles and heavy machine guns, would be placed in "storage" in the Gaza Strip under the control of the Palestinian technocratic committee. Hamas is currently refusing to surrender its small arms, however, although it is considering transferring them to the "Palestinian police" in Gaza, which would operate under the authority of the technocratic committee.
In any event, Hamas is demanding that the organization retain weapons for the personal protection of its senior officials. This would amount to many hundreds of firearms.
Israel opposes leaving the weapons in the Gaza Strip and is demanding that all arms be surrendered before it carries out any form of withdrawal.
Against the backdrop of the dispute, Turkey, Egypt and Palestinian officials are pressing the Peace Council and its representatives, Nikolay Mladenov, Jared Kushner and Tony Blair, to first persuade US President Donald Trump to support the draft and then use his influence to pressure Israel.
Despite the pressure and Hamas' agreement in principle, Israel is not expected to compromise on its demand for the complete disarmament of the Gaza Strip.
