"What we have achieved is a pause. We cannot see it as a ceasefire yet," says Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin al-Thani, referring to continued Israeli operations in Gaza.
Mediators in the war between Israel and Hamas are working to force a path towards the second phase of the US peace plan, so that an agreement can become a reality. But there is a long way to go, says bin Abdulrahman bin al-Thani, pointing out that over 360 Palestinians, according to his information, have been killed by Israel since the ceasefire came into effect on October 10.
A ceasefire cannot be considered complete until the Israeli military has withdrawn completely, there is stability in Gaza and people can get in and out, which is not the case today.
He emphasizes that the next phase will also be temporary and that, from his point of view, a two-state solution – which Israel opposes – is required for peace to become a reality.
Sets requirements
An independent Palestinian state is also what Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, in an interview with AFP, says he demands in order for the terrorist group to disarm.
"Our weapons are linked to the occupation and aggression (from Israel). If the occupation ends, the weapons will be handed over to the state," he says, clarifying that he means a Palestinian state.
This goes against the peace plan presented by US President Donald Trump and on which the peace talks are based. Hamas has also not handed over all the hostages who were killed during their captivity, and Khalil al-Hayya's new statements are in line with previous words from the group.
Opposes international force
In Saturday's interview, he said that Hamas "accepts" UN forces in Gaza to monitor a ceasefire, but according to AFP, he also gave signals that the group rejects the idea of an international coalition force that is not UN-led, which could disarm Hamas.
In Qatar, on the contrary, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said that this “international stabilization force” must be deployed as soon as possible because “one party, Israel, violates the ceasefire every day.”
The first phase of the ceasefire came into effect on October 10.
The next phase – which has not yet begun – includes the deployment of an international security force in Gaza, the formation of a new transitional government for the area, the disarmament of Islamist Hamas and a final withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The transition board consists of several layers.
+ At the top sits a “peace board”, consisting of the US president and several other heads of state and government.
+ Below it, and more involved in day-to-day matters, there will be an “international executive board.” It will include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as well as Trump advisors Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
+ The third tier will be a Palestinian technocratic government, meaning people chosen based on their expertise rather than politics. They should be experienced, but at the same time not have ties to any Palestinian political groups, which makes selection difficult. According to Axios, they started with a list of 25 names, but about half of them have been eliminated.
