Hamas officials say deal agreed on group’s arms, gradual Israel withdrawal from Gaza

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories – Senior Hamas officials told AFP on July 31 that the deal to end the war with Israel includes provisions addressing the group’s weapons and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

“An agreement has been reached regarding the issue of weapons... Furthermore, an agreement has been reached on a gradual withdrawal of (Israeli forces)” from the strip, a Hamas official said, adding that the Islamist movement now expects the mediators and the Board of Peace to ensure that Israel complies with the terms of the deal.

Ghazi Hamad, a member of the group’s negotiating team, said the movement was making “concessions for the sake of our people in the Gaza Strip, to save them from killing and displacement”.

He said the issue of weapons is tied to Israel’s withdrawal, the deployment of the National Committee and reconstruction work in the territory.

“Israel will not intervene in the issue of disarmament. The National Committee is the body that will undertake this task,” he said. AFP

This is a developing story.