{"id":7451,"date":"2026-06-23T16:36:07","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T16:36:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/2026\/06\/23\/demand-for-tunnel-maps-and-personal-weapons-tests-gaza-talks\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T16:36:07","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T16:36:07","slug":"demand-for-tunnel-maps-and-personal-weapons-tests-gaza-talks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/2026\/06\/23\/demand-for-tunnel-maps-and-personal-weapons-tests-gaza-talks\/","title":{"rendered":"Demand for tunnel maps and personal weapons tests Gaza talks"},"content":{"rendered":"<div aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\">\n<p>Ceasefire talks in Egypt between Palestinian factions and mediators face a serious test after <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/features\/2026\/1\/15\/who-is-nickolay-mladenov-the-diplomat-tasked-with-disarming-gaza\">Nickolay Mladenov<\/a>, the high representative of the \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2026\/1\/18\/who-is-part-of-trumps-board-of-peace-for-gaza\">Board of Peace<\/a>\u201c, demanded that not a \u201csingle bullet\u201d should be left in Gaza.<\/p>\n<p>Among the maximalist demands of US President Donald Trump\u2019s oversight body for Gaza is the complete disarmament of Hamas, the surrender of maps of tunnels operated by the group, and even weapons privately held by Palestinians in the enclave.<\/p>\n<section>\n<h2>Recommended Stories <\/h2>\n<p><span>list of 3 items<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span>list 1 of 3<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/gallery\/2026\/6\/23\/palestinian-children-face-genocide-war-crimes-in-gaza-un-says\">Photos: UN says Palestinian children targeted in Gaza genocide, war crimes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><span>list 2 of 3<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2026\/6\/23\/nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-doubles-down-on-criticism-of-aipac\">NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani doubles down on criticism of AIPAC<\/a><\/li>\n<li><span>list 3 of 3<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2026\/6\/23\/why-is-israel-being-accused-of-meddling-in-colombia-presidential-election\">Why is Israel being accused of meddling in Colombia presidential election?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span>end of list<\/span><\/section>\n<p>Details from sources involved in the Cairo talks say that the handover of Palestinian weapons is the primary hurdle to completely ending Israel\u2019s genocidal war on Gaza.<\/p>\n<p>Palestinian officials argue that the complete disarmament stipulation means that Mladenov is essentially a facilitator for Israel\u2019s maximalist demands.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-battle-over-clause-8\" data-path-to-node=\"5\">The battle over Clause 8<\/h2>\n<p>At the heart of the current deadlock is \u201cClause 8\u201d, a pivotal section of the United States-brokered October 2025 ceasefire plan, which dictates the exact terms of disarmament, the management of military infrastructure in post-war Gaza, as well as the transfer of security responsibilities for the enclave to a unified Palestinian body.<\/p>\n<p>An informed source familiar with the internal dynamics of the talks told Al Jazeera that Hamas initially demonstrated \u201chigh positivity\u201d regarding this clause.<\/p>\n<p>For the first time, Hamas had agreed to the handover of its \u201cinventory and storage of heavy weapons\u201d, referring to the arsenal of rockets, missiles, and Kornet antitank missiles that the movement is believed to possess.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"8\">\u201cThe mediators were, of course, happy because for the first time Hamas engaged with this matter,\u201d the informed source said. \u201cPreviously, they would not engage in this topic at all.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"a-tale-of-two-texts\" data-path-to-node=\"9\">A tale of two texts<\/h2>\n<p>A Hamas source involved in the talks provided Al Jazeera with the competing drafts of Clause 8 of the ceasefire plan, which covers the handover of weapons by Palestinian factions in Gaza.<\/p>\n<p>Mladenov, who, as high representative, has responsibility for post-war transition in Gaza, wants the unconditional surrender of all arms by Palestinian armed groups in Gaza.<\/p>\n<p>Hamas and Palestinian factions, meanwhile, have tied the handover of weapons to the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The high representative\u2019s proposed text:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A gradual, phased process to \u201cinventory\/collect\u201d all weapons based on an agreed timeline, monitored by the high representative, the Implementation Verification Committee, and the International Stabilization Force (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2025\/11\/18\/what-is-the-international-stabilisation-force-for-gaza\">ISF<\/a>).<\/li>\n<li>The process would be Palestinian-led via the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2026\/1\/18\/who-is-part-of-trumps-board-of-peace-for-gaza\">NCAG<\/a>), with all armed groups participating in the inventory of infrastructure and collection of weapons.<\/li>\n<li>No armed group would be required to transfer its weapons directly to Israel.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Hamas and the Palestinian factions\u2019 final text:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The gradual \u201cinventory and storage of heavy weapons\u201d must be carried out in tandem with a phased Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.<\/li>\n<li>Implementation is entirely contingent on completing Phase 1 of the ceasefire, the NCAG assuming its duties, ISF deployment, and the dismantling of armed militias.<\/li>\n<li>The execution of the agreement, including the weapons clause, must lead to a political path guaranteeing the rights of the Palestinian people to establish a state and achieve self-determination.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"neutralising-infrastructure-and-the-single\" data-path-to-node=\"15\">\u2018Neutralising infrastructure\u2019 and the \u2018single bullet\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>When Mladenov presented the amended Palestinian text to the Israelis, they outright rejected it. They then countered with a new demand of their own: The dismantling of the entire tunnel network operated by the Qassam Brigades, Hamas\u2019s armed wing, and that all facilities belonging to the armed group should be dismantled.<\/p>\n<p>When Hamas refused, Mladenov aligned with the Israeli position. \u201cHe said: \u2018No, we will not accept, and you must bring everything. You must hand over tunnel maps, manufacturing workshops, heavy weapons, and light weapons,&#8217;\u201d the informed source quoted Mladenov as saying.<\/p>\n<p>Another senior Hamas official confirmed to Al Jazeera that the talks had not collapsed, but the demand for Hamas\u2019s complete disarmament was severely testing the negotiations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMladenov stressed that Gaza will be completely free of any weapons, down to the single bullet,\u201d the Hamas official said. \u201cNo factions, no families, no militias, not even individuals.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-june-12-draft-and-family-weapons\" data-path-to-node=\"21\">The June 12 draft and family weapons<\/h2>\n<p>Another source from a Palestinian faction participating in the Cairo talks provided details about how the talks had moved towards the current standoff.<\/p>\n<p>After meeting for four consecutive days starting June 9, Palestinian factions agreed on June 12 to a unified modification of Clause 8, offering to inventory and storage for heavy weapons. Mladenov met Hamas representatives four days later to discuss the framework.<\/p>\n<p>Mladenov initially expressed \u201cdiscomfort\u201d with the Palestinian amendments, and subsequently introduced sweeping new modifications based on his 15-point roadmap for peace between Hamas and Israel. This included a demand for dismantling Hamas and other Palestinian factions\u2019 military capabilities in Gaza, including \u201cweapons storage facilities, tunnels, and workshops\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Mladenov\u2019s framework reiterated his demand that all personal weapons belonging to Palestinians in Gaza be handed over.<\/p>\n<p>The plan would see all rifles and other firearms be surrendered to the NCAG, which would manage them through a strict \u201cpurchase or licensing\u201d scheme.<\/p>\n<p>Mladenov formally submitted this document on June 17, and it is currently being reviewed by all factions. \u201cThere will certainly be a comprehensive meeting for all forces to reach a joint formulation and present it once again to Mladenov,\u201d a Palestinian source involved in the talks told Al Jazeera. \u201cThe door is not closed.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"factions-push-back\" data-path-to-node=\"26\">Factions push back<\/h2>\n<p>The push for total disarmament has been squarely rejected by all Palestinian leaders, who view the disarmament demand as a way of subverting the peace process in Gaza.<\/p>\n<p>Mohammad al-Braim, the media official for the Popular Resistance Committees \u2013 one of the key factions officially attending the Cairo talks \u2013 told Al Jazeera that the groups have shown \u201cunparalleled flexibility\u201d regarding weapons arrangements.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe will not raise the white flag, and we will not submit under any threat, pressure, or procrastination,\u201d al-Braim, also known as Abu Mujahid, said.<\/p>\n<p>He accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mladenov of trying to turn the weapons file into a \u201cgateway to control all tracks\u201d, stressing that any disarmament steps must be linked to a comprehensive political solution and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. \u201cThis matter will not be for free,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"an-employee-of-netanyahu\" data-path-to-node=\"31\">An \u2019employee of Netanyahu\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>Mladenov\u2019s pivot has drawn scathing criticism from Palestinian observers of the process.<\/p>\n<p>Saeed Ziad, a Palestinian political analyst, told Al Jazeera that the factions\u2019 initial offer was strictly about \u201crearranging the resistance\u2019s weapons\u201d. This aligns with earlier statements from Hamas officials that weapons would no longer be visible on Gaza\u2019s streets, but that some would be kept in reserve by armed groups.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is no discussion of disarmament or dissolving military formations except when a fully integrated Palestinian state is established,\u201d Ziad said.<\/p>\n<p>He said that no Palestinian leader or group has the authority to unilaterally end the resistance to the Israeli occupation and accused Mladenov of abandoning his neutrality.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMladenov does not act as a mediator, nor as an entity that wants to bring peace to the region,\u201d Ziad argued. \u201cHe acts as an entity that sponsors and implements what the Israelis want. He is an employee of Netanyahu attempting to achieve personal gains.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The demand for Hamas\u2019s total disarmament is viewed by Palestinians as a pretext for Israel to avoid their previous commitments, he said.<\/p>\n<p>Israel has so far failed to implement any of its commitments for Phase 1 of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2026\/4\/10\/neither-war-nor-peace-what-gaza-looks-like-six-months-into-ceasefire\">October ceasefire agreement<\/a> with Hamas. Instead of withdrawing from Gaza \u2013 as they were obliged to \u2013 the Israeli military has instead expanded its footprint in the enclave. Meanwhile, over a thousand Palestinians are believed to have been killed since the truce was proposed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat Mladenov proposes is extremely dangerous,\u201d Ziad warned. \u201cHe proposes the vision of the extreme messianic Israeli right, the vision of [Finance Minister Bezalel] Smotrich and [National Security Minister Itamar] Ben-Gvir \u2026 he is precisely proposing the reinstatement of settlements in the Gaza Strip.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"board-of-peace-response\">Board of Peace response<\/h2>\n<p>Responding to an Al Jazeera request for comment regarding the allegations of bias and the scope of the disarmament demands, a Board of Peace official dismissed the criticism and defended Mladenov\u2019s ongoing mediation efforts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cClaims that the high representative is advancing the position of any particular party are inaccurate,\u201d the official told Al Jazeera. \u201cThe framework is the product of extensive engagement among the parties and mediators \u2013 Egypt, Qatar, and Turkiye, aimed at reconciling legitimate concerns raised by all sides.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The official emphasised that the roadmap \u201cshould not be understood as the proposal of any single individual or institution\u201d, adding that Mladenov\u2019s role is to \u201cbridge differences and support efforts to reach practical arrangements that can be implemented on the ground\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Addressing the Palestinian factions\u2019 concerns that the disarmament demands were derailing the broader agreement, the official stated that the discussions are not centred \u201con any single provision or security measure\u201d, but rather form part of a comprehensive package based on a reciprocal approach.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt does not place obligations on one side alone, nor does it view any single component in isolation,\u201d the official said. \u201cProgress across security, governance, humanitarian access, reconstruction, and withdrawal arrangements is intended to advance through coordinated and mutually reinforcing steps by all parties.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ceasefire talks in Egypt between Palestinian factions and mediators face a serious test after Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative of the \u201cBoard of Peace\u201c, demanded that not a \u201csingle bullet\u201d should be left in Gaza. Among the maximalist demands of US President Donald Trump\u2019s oversight body for Gaza is the complete disarmament of Hamas, the &#8230; <a title=\"Demand for tunnel maps and personal weapons tests Gaza talks\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/2026\/06\/23\/demand-for-tunnel-maps-and-personal-weapons-tests-gaza-talks\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Demand for tunnel maps and personal weapons tests Gaza talks\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7452,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7451","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7451"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7451\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7451"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7451"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7451"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}