Details of Board of Peaces Gaza disarmament plan are being made public

Plan for Gradual Disarmament of Hamas and Other Groups in Gaza Submitted by Board of Peace Director General Nikolay Mladenov

A plan submitted by Nikolay Mladenov, Director General of the Board of Peace, has been made public. The plan calls for a gradual disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian groups in Gaza over an eight-month period. According to the plan, disarmament would be implemented in exchange for Israel fulfilling its obligations, including allowing reconstruction materials into Gaza.

The plan also envisions an increase in humanitarian aid entering Gaza and the transfer of administration of the territory to a national committee. Mladenov referred to the plan in general terms during a speech to the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, stating that it had been “presented to relevant armed groups” and urging them to accept the framework “without delay”.

The disarmament process would proceed in parallel with staged withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The plan has been met with skepticism by some, who have expressed concerns about its implementation.

According to the plan, the first phase would last for two weeks and involve a complete cessation of military operations by Israel and Hamas, as well as the implementation of humanitarian protocols. Representatives of the Palestinian national committee would also be allowed into Gaza during this phase to assume security and administrative responsibilities.

The second phase of the plan would begin on day 16 and represent the central element of the proposal. During this phase, Hamas and other Palestinian factions would cooperate to remove heavy weapons from areas controlled by Israel and then, before day 90, from areas still controlled by Hamas. Hamas would also destroy its tunnel network during this phase.

Once all sides have met their obligations in the first three months of the plan, they would move on to the next phase, in which Israeli forces would gradually withdraw to the perimeters of Gaza after a monitoring committee determines that Palestinian factions in Gaza have been disarmed. Security forces answerable to the Palestinian national committee would be tasked with gathering weapons.

The Board of Peace has assumed oversight of Gaza’s administration and operates on a step-by-step formula, with transitions between phases only taking place once both sides have fulfilled their obligations.

Source: Al Jazeera