Gaza ceasefire negotiations hit weapons snag as UN envoy revises plan

UN envoy Nikolai Meladynov presented a revised 15‑point roadmap for implementing the Gaza ceasefire agreement, aiming to phase the dismantling of the Palestinian militant infrastructure. Hamas accepted the principle of handing over heavy weapons to a Gaza administration committee but rejected broader demands to hand over all resistance assets, including tunnels and vehicle stockpiles.

The revised text reignited the central dispute over the weapons clause, with Hamas insisting on limited disarmament tied to the establishment of a Palestinian state, while Israeli and U.S. officials remain hesitant to endorse the new terms. Mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey continue to shuttle between the parties in Cairo, seeking a compromise that satisfies both the Israeli security concerns and Palestinian demands for sovereignty and aid.

Both sides acknowledge that progress on the ceasefire hinges on resolving the weapons issue, the Israeli withdrawal schedule, reconstruction plans and the deployment of an international stabilization force.