The agreement, signed between the Palestinians and Israel in early October and negotiated by the authorities of the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, provided in a first phase for the release of hostages held alive in Gaza and the return of the bodies of those who died in exchange for the return of 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Since the signing, Hamas and its allies have released the last 20 hostages still alive as well as 27 of the 28 hostage bodies. The only body that has not yet been returned is that of Israeli police officer Ran Gvili.
“Our weapons are linked to the existence of occupation and aggression,” Khalil al Hayya, Hamas’s chief negotiator and head of the movement in Gaza, said in a statement. “If the occupation ends, these weapons will be placed under the authority of the state.”
Consulted by AFP, Hayya’s advisor clarified that he was referring to a sovereign and independent Palestinian state.
“We accept the sending of UN forces as a separation force, responsible for monitoring the borders and ensuring respect for the ceasefire in Gaza,” added Hayya, underlining his group’s rejection of the sending of an international force to the Palestinian enclave whose mission would be to disarm it.