Former senior Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan said Saturday that Israel was expected to stop its attacks and targeted killings in the Gaza Strip beginning Sunday morning local time, based on an assurance he had received from Jared Kushner. Meanwhile, Palestinian reports said two people were killed overnight in a strike in the Deir al-Balah area of the central Gaza Strip.
Dahlan made the remarks after Hamas and the other Palestinian factions agreed to a 15-point roadmap for continuing the implementation of the Gaza peace plan. In his statement, he said the agreement's success depended on "Israel's full commitment to ending the daily bombardment, killing, assassinations and attacks in Gaza."
"Mr. Jared Kushner confirmed to us that he had reached an agreement with the Israeli side to halt attacks in Gaza beginning tomorrow morning," Dahlan said. "We are continuing intensive talks with the American side to ensure the agreement is implemented faithfully and in full."
Dahlan also called on all Palestinian factions to fully abide by the agreement, halt armed displays and refrain from anything that could, in his words, give Israel "an excuse to derail it." He added that the factions should prepare for "a phase full of challenges," during which they would be required to rebuild Gaza, protect the West Bank and continue working toward the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
At the same time, Palestinian reports said two people were killed in a strike in the Deir al-Balah area of the central Gaza Strip, before the time when Dahlan said the halt in attacks was due to take effect.
Roadmap for the second phase
In response to the publication of the roadmap, Hamas set out a series of conditions for proceeding with the second phase, including an end to Israeli attacks, an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the entry of the committee tasked with administering the territory.
The roadmap includes a process for decommissioning and storing heavy weapons, military production facilities, weapons depots and tunnels. At the same time, it stipulates that Israel will proceed with a phased withdrawal according to an agreed timetable.
Dahlan, formerly one of Fatah's most senior officials and the head of the Palestinian Authority's Preventive Security Service in Gaza, has lived in Abu Dhabi for years. His name has previously been raised as a possible candidate for a role in governing the Gaza Strip after the war, although he has denied any intention of accepting a security, ministerial or executive position.
