Sources: Hamas Disarmament Talks Stalled

Talks between Hamas and the Board of Peace over the disarmament of Gaza have failed to produce an agreement, with sources familiar with the discussions saying the gaps remain extremely wide.

“Hamas didn’t say no, but essentially it is almost impossible to bridge the gaps,” several sources told The Jerusalem Post.

In recent weeks, senior Board of Peace officials, including director-general Nickolay Mladenov, have held meetings with senior Hamas figures in an effort to reach understandings on the terrorist organization’s disarmament. According to sources briefed on the talks, Hamas’s position has amounted to “yes, but,” with the conditions attached to any agreement viewed as far beyond what Israel, the United States and the Board of Peace are prepared to accept.

An Israeli source said Jerusalem is coordinating with the Board of Peace and the Trump administration on next steps following what Israel views as Hamas’s refusal to disarm.

“No one was surprised six months ago, and no one is surprised today that Hamas refuses to disarm, including the US and the mediators,” the official said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Tuesday with Mladenov, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and other senior Board of Peace officials, including Aryeh Lightstone, who is overseeing the Trump administration’s Gaza reconstruction project. Two sources described the meeting as positive.

One source said there is no disagreement between Israel and the Board of Peace on the final goal for Gaza: Hamas must be disarmed, and reconstruction can only move forward once that happens.

The Board of Peace plan would begin with Hamas giving up its heavy offensive weapons and the destruction of its tunnel network. In a later stage, Hamas operatives and members of other armed organizations would be barred from possessing even light weapons.

Senior Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, have repeatedly said Gaza will be disarmed “one way or another.” The IDF has also prepared operational plans in case the government decides to resume fighting in the Strip.

Ministers have called for action against Hamas, but current assessments indicate Israel is unlikely to launch unusual operations in Gaza while the war with Iran continues. For now, even if Hamas maintains its refusal to disarm, the immediate focus is expected to remain on coordination with the US and the Board of Peace rather than a major military move in Gaza.