Gaza Peace Roadmap: What It Says on Weapons, Conditions, and Security
The Gaza peace deal roadmap outlines a phased plan for disarmament and security arrangements, but several key details remain unclear, including the exact mechanism for the handover of weapons. The document, which has been circulated among the parties, provides a broad framework rather than a fully specified implementation plan.
According to the roadmap, all heavy weapons—including Hamas’s remaining rockets—and other military hardware would be moved into secure storage managed by a National Committee. The committee, however, has not yet entered Gaza and has been operating from Cairo. It remains unclear how the transfer would be supervised and what safeguards would be in place to ensure the weapons stay secure.
In terms of timeframe, the document says only that the handover would happen “in a gradual, sequential, and time-bound manner, based on an implementation schedule to be prepared within 14 days.” No specific deadlines are mentioned beyond that, leaving room for interpretation and potential delays.
Hamas has since stated that giving up its heavy weapons is contingent on Israel ending “all forms of aggression” and withdrawing its forces from Gaza. In a statement, the group described Israel’s commitment to ending its attack on Gaza as a “fundamental prerequisite” for moving forward with the deal. This condition reflects the deep mistrust between the parties and highlights the fragility of the negotiation process.
The roadmap also calls for mapping and destroying underground tunnel networks, weapons stores, and manufacturing sites. This is a critical component aimed at preventing the rebuilding of military infrastructure, but the methodology and verification mechanisms are not detailed in the document.
Remaining personal arms and police weapons would need to be registered and handed over in stages to the new Palestinian police force, which would work under the supervision of an International Stabilisation Force (ISF). Hundreds of new Palestinian police recruits have already been trained in Egypt and Jordan. Israel’s cabinet recently approved the deployment of some 200 international troops from “friendly countries” as part of the ISF, but the force has not yet been deployed. The role of the ISF and its rules of engagement remain undefined.
Meanwhile, Hamas has been seeking assurances that pro-Israel militia in Gaza will be dismantled and will also give up their arms. This point underscores the broader challenge of disarming all armed groups in Gaza, not just Hamas, and ensuring a balanced approach to security sector reform.
The peace deal roadmap is part of ongoing efforts to establish a lasting ceasefire and a political framework for Gaza. However, the gaps in the document—particularly around sequencing, enforcement, and conditions set by both sides—mean that significant negotiations are still required before implementation can begin.
