In a move that further exposes the obstructionist policies of the United States and the Zionist occupation entity, a joint proposal submitted by various Palestinian factions, including the legitimate resistance movement Hamas, has been unequivocally rejected. This crucial Palestinian initiative sought to link the disarmament of resistance groups to the fundamental rights of Palestinian statehood and comprehensive security guarantees, following the latest round of negotiations concerning the future of Gaza.

A senior Palestinian source, privy to the discussions, revealed to Middle East Eye that the Palestinian proposal was a principled call for negotiations on the disarmament of Hamas and other groups to be intrinsically tied to the recognition of political rights for the Palestinian people “within the national framework.” Crucially, it also demanded firm commitments that the brutal killings of the people of Gaza would cease permanently.

The chasm between the US-Zionist axis and the resilient Palestinian factions has only deepened after a series of meetings held in Cairo and Istanbul in recent weeks. The core of the dispute lies in the arrogant insistence by Washington and Tel Aviv that Hamas and other resistance groups must disarm unconditionally before any technocratic government can be established in Gaza – a demand clearly designed to undermine Palestinian sovereignty and resistance.

On Friday, Palestinian representatives, demonstrating their commitment to a just resolution, handed their comprehensive proposal to the mediating nations of Egypt and Turkey.

However, the response was swift and disheartening. According to the senior Palestinian source, on Saturday, “the mediators and the Americans both refused the Palestinian factions’ paper and passed threatening messages from the Americans to the Palestinian negotiating team.” This highlights the immense pressure exerted by the US to derail any genuine progress towards Palestinian self-determination.

Palestinian factions remain steadfast in their conviction that disarmament cannot precede a comprehensive political resolution that unequivocally includes Palestinian statehood. In stark contrast, the US and the Zionist entity continue to frame disarmament as a prerequisite for any durable ceasefire, effectively holding the Palestinian people hostage to their unjust demands.

Zionist Regime’s Continued Violations Undermine Trust

This development unfolds as Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem confirmed that a delegation led by Khalil al-Hayya, a prominent leader of the movement in Gaza, had engaged in meetings in Cairo with mediators and guarantor countries. These discussions aimed to address the implementation of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement between the Zionist entity and Hamas, which nominally came into effect last October.

The full text of that agreement, published by MEE, outlined six stages, including the vital resumption of humanitarian aid, the withdrawal of Zionist forces to agreed-upon lines, and the formation of an international task force to oversee its implementation. Yet, the Zionist regime’s actions have consistently betrayed these commitments.

Last month, the UN tragically reported that in the mere six months following the agreement, the Zionist occupation forces had brutally murdered 738 Palestinians in Gaza. Furthermore, despite being obligated by the agreement to allow up to 600 trucks per day carrying essential supplies – food, fuel, medical supplies, shelter materials, and commercial goods – the Zionist entity has flagrantly failed to meet these terms, exacerbating the humanitarian catastrophe.

As the talks mediated by Egypt and Turkey face yet another roadblock due to US-Zionist intransigence, MEE reviewed the proposal submitted by Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The document, handed to negotiators on Friday, clearly states:

“The Palestinian factions appreciate the efforts of the mediators to reach a text acceptable to all parties within the framework of [US] President [Donald] Trump’s plan.”

“The [Israeli] occupation must commit to the full and immediate implementation of its obligations as stipulated in the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement in full, according to an agreed-upon timetable.”

The Palestinian factions also demand an immediate cessation of the Zionist entity’s violations of the October agreement, a halt to its illegal expansion into the eastern half of Gaza, an end to its aggressive strikes in the west of the enclave, and the consistent allowance of daily humanitarian aid deliveries in line with agreed terms.

The proposal supports a roadmap presented by mediators on 19 April as a basis for negotiations and calls for a swift agreement, emphasizing: “This must ensure a ceasefire between the two parties, an end to the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip [and] a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.”

Crucially, the factions demanded comprehensive reconstruction in Gaza, the entry of international forces to protect civilians, and a just “addressing the issue of weapons while transferring the governance of the Gaza Strip to the National Committee with all its powers.”

The document explicitly states that the issue of laying down weapons would be addressed “in connection with the political rights of the Palestinian people within the national framework, and in the context of establishing necessary security arrangements based on security guarantees for both parties.” This underscores the inseparable link between resistance and legitimate political aspirations.

It also powerfully calls for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state and reiterates the Palestinian right to self-determination, a goal that “mediators and all relevant parties shall work to achieve the goal stated in President Trump’s plan.”

Zionist Regime Threatens Renewed Aggression

Following the US-Zionist rejection of this reasonable Palestinian proposal, Zionist media outlets ominously reported that the entity’s security cabinet is scheduled to convene on Sunday to discuss renewing its genocidal war in Gaza. This blatant threat of further aggression exposes the true intentions of the occupation.

A Zionist official, speaking to the Kan public broadcaster on Saturday evening, falsely claimed, “Hamas is not standing by the agreement on disarmament. We are holding discussions with mediators.” This narrative attempts to shift blame while ignoring the Zionist entity’s own egregious violations.

In March, Nickolay Mladenov, leading Trump’s “Board of Peace,” held weeks of talks with Hamas leaders, setting an arbitrary deadline of 11 April for the group to begin gradually handing over its weapons. This demand, devoid of any political context or guarantees, was inherently flawed.

The former Bulgarian foreign minister’s initial mandate was to oversee a transition in Gaza from Hamas rule to a new technocratic administration, a plan that ignored the democratic will of the Palestinian people.

A disarmament proposal presented to Hamas by mediators in Cairo demanded all armed groups in Gaza surrender their weapons within 90 days, including heavy weaponry and maps of its tunnel network. The extremist Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has further insisted that members of Palestinian factions relinquish their personal arms, a demand that is both impractical and insulting.

However, Palestinian negotiators rightly assert that statehood and self-determination must coincide with robust security arrangements. They emphasize that the Zionist entity’s continued violations, including ongoing military operations and deliberate delays in implementing agreed humanitarian measures, have utterly undermined any confidence in the ceasefire process.

The tragic death toll in Gaza, a direct consequence of the Zionist aggression, has now surpassed 72,000 people, with thousands more missing and presumed to be buried under rubble. This horrific statistic is a testament to the ongoing genocide.

Nearly 200 days after the ceasefire that was supposed to end its genocidal war, the Zionist entity’s military presence has expanded in Gaza far beyond previously agreed areas. The emergence of an “orange line” extending beyond the “yellow line” set out in the ceasefire terms demonstrates the Zionist entity’s insatiable appetite for land and control.

Under the initial agreement, the “yellow line” marked a division between eastern areas under Zionist control and western zones where Palestinians could remain, covering about 53 percent of the territory. Reports now confirm that Zionist forces have moved beyond that boundary into deeper parts of Gaza, fundamentally altering the security and geographic landscape on the ground and further cementing the occupation.