Mohamed Elbedewy
The New Arab / July 31, 2026
Hamas has agreed the final wording of key clauses in the Gaza ceasefire roadmap, sources told The New Arab, as the deal moves closer to formal approval.
Washington, DC – Palestinian factions have agreed to the final wording of two key clauses in the Gaza ceasefire roadmap, narrowing remaining gaps and bringing a potential deal closer to announcement, sources familiar with the negotiations told The New Arab early on Friday.
The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said negotiators concluded intensive sessions late Thursday by finalising the fifth and eighth clauses of the proposal put forward by Nikolay Mladenov, head of the so-called Peace Council.
The agreement is now in its final approval stage ahead of a formal declaration, they added.
The fifth clause, which had been a major sticking point, concerns the future of public employees in Gaza. Negotiators agreed on legal language governing mechanisms for ending employment and ensuring the payment of entitlements, effectively resolving one of the most contentious issues in the talks.
The eighth clause addresses the weapons file, with the final wording based on five main principles. According to the sources, the provisions apply only to heavy weapons and exclude other categories.
They said the cataloguing and storage of heavy weapons, as well as depots, military production sites and tunnels, will be carried out gradually and in stages under an agreed timetable. Implementation will begin only after the first phase of the ceasefire is fully completed.
The process will be overseen by the Palestinian National Committee in coordination with Palestinian factions and a specialised verification body to ensure compliance. The agreement explicitly stipulates that no weapons will be handed over to Israel or any non-Palestinian party.
Sources added that these arrangements are tied to parallel steps, including the deployment of an international stabilisation force, the dismantling of armed groups, the assumption of duties by the Palestinian National Committee, and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from areas it currently controls in Gaza.
Under the proposed deal, a 14-day period following the announcement would see a halt to Israeli military operations and any further territorial advances, particularly along the so-called “Yellow Line”.
During this phase, 600 aid trucks — including 50 carrying fuel — would be allowed into Gaza daily. The two-week period is intended to test all parties’ commitment before moving to full implementation and establishing detailed timelines.
The sources stressed that the weapons provisions form part of a broader political framework, with the agreement linking implementation to a process aimed at securing Palestinian rights, including statehood and self-determination.
The developments come amid renewed diplomatic momentum, after US President Donald Trump announced a parallel understanding that includes the formation of a new Palestinian administration for Gaza, a phased Israeli withdrawal, and the disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups.
US official reveals details of Gaza plan
A senior US official said Hamas and the Palestinian factions had, for the first time, accepted the full international framework based on Trump’s peace plan.
Speaking to press on Thursday, the official said the talks had gone on for months and included Hamas agreeing to dismantle its military infrastructure, tunnels and weapons, while also raising concerns about whether Israel would honour its commitments after disarmament.
The official said Washington had focused on cutting off Hamas funding rather than punishing Gaza’s population, and had changed the aid distribution system to make it more efficient while sanctioning entities that had been funding Hamas.
They also said Turkey and Qatar’s inclusion in the Peace Council was necessary, and that both countries, alongside Egypt, played an important role in securing the ceasefire and advancing the talks.
The official said Gaza was meant to develop a strong capitalist, free-market economy and move away from dependence on aid, with more investment and jobs. The United States would lead the international force, and the council had commitments from more than 5,000 troops. The National Committee would collect and catalogue weapons with the force’s support, while the Palestinian Authority was urged to focus first on reforms in the West Bank.
An official from the Board of Peace subsequently said new security bodies would take over internal security in Gaza through a consensual process, replacing Hamas members. They vowed that Hamas would not be allowed to re-emerge, and described the plan as a new alternative to previous failed mechanisms.
Israel’s withdrawal would be phased, and implementation was expected to take between 200 and 350 days.
The official said disarmament had to come before Hamas was fully stripped of weapons, and that the group still had a network of tunnels, factories and capabilities greater than the other militias. They added that the overriding goal was to make Israel safer while giving Palestinians a better future.
Mohamed Elbedewy – Al-Araby al-Jadeed reporter in Washington, DC
