Palestinian factions discuss partial Gaza disarmament in Cairo talks

CAIRO: Palestinian factions meeting in Cairo, including Hamas, have agreed in principle that armed groups in Gaza could transfer part of their weapons stockpiles to a new temporary Palestinian body that has yet to be formed, according to Palestinian sources cited in the talks.

The discussions, which began on Saturday, have brought together most major Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, though Fatah, the dominant party in the Palestinian Authority, is not taking part. Several participants said they hoped the proposal could help overcome a months-long stalemate over arrangements for Gaza’s future.

Debate over weapons handover

On Tuesday, participants discussed how weapons could be handed over to a new entity that would include representation from different Palestinian political currents, according to a source close to the negotiations. At the same time, several sources speaking anonymously said the factions rejected the idea of total disarmament sought by Israel.

One participant said Egyptian mediators and other parties were trying to shape an arrangement acceptable to all sides. "Egypt and the mediators are working to formulate a new, acceptable formula that takes into account the factions’ agreement"

Another Palestinian involved in the talks said Egyptian and Qatari mediators had welcomed the approach under discussion.

A Palestinian political official said Hamas was tying any discussion of weapons to a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and to reconstruction in the territory. Israel is demanding complete demilitarisation of Gaza, beginning with Hamas, making it unlikely that Israel would accept a partial handover plan.

Progress claimed amid ongoing impasse

Senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said the past few days had seen "significant progress" and said the factions were seeking to carry out US President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza.

Despite a ceasefire announced in October 2025 after two years of war under Trump’s phased peace plan, Israeli strikes have continued almost daily. Hamas and Israel have continued to accuse each other of breaching the truce, with Hamas saying Israel has not fulfilled its commitments, especially on the entry of humanitarian aid, while Israel maintains that no further steps can proceed without the Islamist movement’s full disarmament.

Hamas has repeatedly said it could hand over some of its weapons, but only within the framework of a Palestinian political process. Former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal has also floated the idea of freezing or storing weapons, a proposal Israel rejected.