After months of talks, the terrorist group Hamas has agreed to lay down its arms for the first time, accepting the terms of the Board of Peace set up by US President Donald Trump, the BBC reports.
The plan would see the group hand over all its remaining heavy weapons to Palestinian control. It would remove one of the major obstacles to progressing a Gaza peace initiative. The decision comes shortly after Hamas held elections for a new leader, appointing Gaza-based Khalil al-Hayya as its leader.
Palestinian officials involved in the talks say the new leader is ready to make what is being called the most significant political decision in Hamas’ history. More than two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are currently living in a humanitarian crisis.
A senior Hamas official and a spokesman for the group at the talks told the BBC that the talks had been long and extremely difficult, and that
the group was insisting on the transfer of weapons under Palestinian control rather than to Israel.
It is too early to say whether the deal will be fully implemented, and whether all parties will keep their promises. However, if the deal is not broken, it would be a significant first step towards ending the nearly three-year war and allowing a broader political process to begin.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, the news was not greeted with much enthusiasm. After numerous broken ceasefires and failed talks, Palestinians are sceptical of any announcements of political progress. Some residents have shared their thoughts online, indicating that they are less interested in the nuances of the negotiations than in whether this agreement will finally end the war, allow families to return home, and bring lasting peace. For many, trust in both Hamas and Israel is almost nonexistent, given that previous agreements have been repeatedly broken and have eroded any improvements.
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