Levers of resistance: Hamas disarmament comes to the fore in Gaza
After the return of the body of the last deceased hostage from the Gaza Strip, negotiations to resolve the conflict moved on to a key stage — the disarmament of Hamas. For the first time in more than 11 years, there are no Israeli citizens being held in Gaza, which completes the first phase of the ceasefire agreement. At the same time, the second stage of the deal promises to become much more complicated: it involves dismantling the armed structures of the Palestinian factions and launching elements of a post-war settlement, including the opening of the Rafah border crossing. Hamas has already stated that external pressure will not affect its position on the issue of weapons surrender. About what issues still remain unsolvable for the parties to the conflict, and how the negotiation process in Washington is assessed, see the Izvestia article.
Israel to open Rafah checkpoint
Negotiations on the Gaza Strip are moving to the second, most sensitive stage — the disarmament of Hamas. This was stated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump. The return of the body of the last deceased Israeli hostage, Rana Gvili, 843 days after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, put an end to this issue. In Israel itself, the return of Gvili's body sparked spontaneous gatherings and became an event that many considered unlikely a few months ago. For the first time since the summer of 2014, not a single Israeli hostage remained in the Gaza Strip, neither alive nor dead, and this in itself became a fundamental boundary for Israeli society and the authorities, said Roman Yanushevsky, editor—in-chief of the website of the 9th Israeli TV channel.
Speaking at a special session of the Knesset, Netanyahu stressed that the next step should not be the reconstruction process, but the dismantling of the Hamas armed structures and the demilitarization of the sector. According to him, Israel is interested in an early transition to this phase and does not intend to postpone it. The Prime Minister made it clear that disarmament can be achieved by both political and military means. A similar position was expressed by Donald Trump.
In parallel, the implementation of individual elements of the second phase begins. The Rafah border crossing on the border with Egypt is expected to be opened in the coming days. It will allow Palestinians to leave and return to Gaza, primarily for medical reasons, but traffic is not yet provided. The passage will be carried out according to an individual procedure under Israeli control, while Israel intends to maintain a military presence along the Philadelphia Corridor. According to the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, the authorities will open Rafah under strict conditions: more people will be able to leave Gaza than enter.
Hani Salah, an expert on Palestinian resistance issues, believes that the situation around the Rafah checkpoint clearly demonstrates Israel's desire to delay the transition to the second stage of the agreement. According to him, in accordance with the agreements reached, the border crossing should have been opened already as part of the first phase, but the Israeli side is trying to impose a new mechanism for resuming its work.
— The proposed format fundamentally excludes any role of the Palestinian National Authority. Of particular concern is Israel's desire to maintain control over the lists of those entering and leaving, in fact, being fully involved in the selection of specific individuals," the expert told Izvestia.
This approach creates additional obstacles to the implementation of the second phase of the agreement and serves as a tool to slow it down, Salah stressed. At the same time, according to him, after the return of the remains of the last Israeli hostage, the Israeli side no longer has any formal pretexts for further postponing the transition to the next phase.
The internal affairs of the people of Palestine
Humanitarian aid will not be delivered through Rafah at this stage and will continue to be imported through the Israeli Kerem Shalom and Zikim checkpoints. The decision on Rafah is already causing tension within the Israeli ruling coalition. Representatives of the far—right wing accuse the government of making concessions to Hamas and insist on the complete disarmament of the movement - even before any political mechanisms are launched.
Washington believes that the demilitarization of Hamas can be linked to elements of an amnesty and a program for the reconstruction of Gaza. American officials express confidence that the leadership of the movement is discussing the possibility of giving up weapons as part of a new political configuration. At the same time, it is emphasized that non-disarmament will be regarded as a violation of the agreements.
Hamas itself takes a different position. Husam Badran, a member of the political bureau of the movement, says that the issue of Palestinian weapons is an internal matter of the Palestinian people and cannot be resolved under external pressure. Hamas believes that it has fulfilled all obligations under the first phase of the deal by handing over all hostages and the bodies of the dead, and accuses the Israeli side of delaying the transition to the second stage, including the opening of Rafah in both directions.
With the return of the remains of the last hostage to Israel, the country has effectively closed one of the most painful pages of its recent history, Roman Yanushevsky told Izvestia. Nevertheless, the key challenges are just beginning, he is sure.
— The next stage of the negotiation process is critical — we are talking about the disarmament of Hamas and the dismantling of its power in Gaza. The main question remains whether the pressure of the international community is really capable of psychologically breaking the militants and forcing them to give up their weapons. It is the answer to this question that will determine whether Israel can be considered victorious in the war unleashed on October 7, 2023," Roman Yanushevsky notes.
At the same time, the expert emphasizes that Israel has fulfilled at least one of the two strategic goals — the issue of hostages is finally closed. The second goal, related to the elimination of the Hamas military and political infrastructure in Gaza, remains unresolved and will determine the further dynamics of the conflict.
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