Gaza Board Says Disarmament Talks With Hamas Making Progress

GAZA — The Gaza Governance Board said negotiations on the disarmament of Hamas are advancing and that the group will not hold any administrative role in the territory under the plan. In a written statement, the board said the proposed framework envisions the demolition of tunnels and weapons storage sites used by the group. The statement said talks continue over the implementation of the agreement and the surrender of Hamas's heavy and light weapons. It added that residents of areas previously controlled by Hamas will be allowed to enter designated zones only after passing security screening. A few days earlier, Israel's security cabinet approved a plan allowing the board and multinational international forces to enter Gaza. The board said the process has faced delays, citing Hamas's refusal to disarm and Israel's reluctance to endorse several core elements of the plan. No further details on the timeline or implementation of the agreement were immediately available.