Palestinian Factions Agree on Revised Gaza Ceasefire Proposal as Focus Turns to Israel

Palestinian factions have unified behind a revised 15-point ceasefire proposal in Cairo negotiations, shifting focus to Israel's response as attacks continue in Gaza and the West Bank.

Cairo Negotiations Reach Decisive Phase

Hamas and other Palestinian factions reached agreement on the final version of a UN-drafted proposal after weeks of revisions, overcoming differences on clauses concerning Gaza's civilian administration and heavy weapons. [2] Palestinian sources familiar with the negotiations stated that the factions have overcome their remaining differences over the 15-point document after weeks of legal and technical revisions. [2] Attention has now shifted almost entirely to Israel's response, which is seen as the decisive factor in determining whether the agreement can move from negotiations to implementation. [2] The breakthrough follows months of indirect talks mediated by Egypt, Qatar and Turkey. [2] A Palestinian source said Hamas accepted the final wording after what he described as "the highest degree of flexibility" shown by Palestinian factions. [2] The fifth clause concerns the administration of Gaza's civilian institutions after the deployment of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, headed by Ali Shaath. [2] The eighth clause deals with heavy weapons. [2] Under the revised proposal, discussions over heavy weapons, tunnels and military production sites would begin only after Israel fulfils its obligations under the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement, the National Committee enters Gaza, and an international stabilisation force is deployed. [2] Mediators bridged differences on both clauses by introducing legal and technical amendments accepted by all Palestinian parties. [2]

Ongoing Violence in Gaza

Since an alleged US-brokered ceasefire took effect last October, over 1,200 Palestinians in Gaza, mainly civilians, have been killed by daily Israeli strikes. [2] The current round of ceasefire negotiations in Cairo has entered what Palestinian officials describe as its "most decisive phase." [2] The breakthrough comes after months of indirect talks mediated by Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, amid growing international pressure to turn the fragile ceasefire into a sustainable arrangement capable of ending the war and opening the door to reconstruction. [2] The agreement coincided with the arrival of a Hamas delegation in Cairo on Tuesday for meetings with Egyptian officials, Qatari and Turkish mediators, and Palestinian factions aimed at advancing the second phase of the ceasefire agreement reached in Sharm el-Sheikh last October. [2] Samir al-Mashharawi, deputy head of Fatah's Democratic Reform Movement, said in press statements that Hamas had made "a series of concessions" to remove remaining obstacles. [2] Al-Mashharawi accused Israel of delaying implementation of the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement despite progress achieved through mediation. [2]

Palestinian factions agree on revised 15-point Gaza ceasefire proposal in Cairo talks. — Source: thenewarab

Settler Attack on West Bank Quarry

A Palestinian American businessman resumed operations at his West Bank stone quarry after Israeli settlers burned its machinery in a Sunday attack, causing $700,000 in losses, and warned that abandoning the site would lead to loss of village land. [1] Palestinian American businessman Abdulsamad Abdulaziz, 54, has resumed operations in the occupied West Bank at his industrial facility, a stone quarry, after settlers attacked it in the early hours of Sunday and burnt its contents, including heavy machinery, despite losses estimated at $700,000. [1] The quarry targeted in the violent attack is near the Ein Samia area between the villages of Kafr Malik and al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah. [1] Although located in "Area B" under the Oslo Accords, meaning it falls under Palestinian Authority civil jurisdiction, including licensing, it has constantly been attacked by Israeli settlers. [1] Abdulaziz warned in comments to The New Arab that abandoning the site would result in the loss of more than 1,500 dunums of land belonging to the villages of Kafr Malik and al-Mughayyir. [1] He remains determined to stay at the site and restart operations using machinery from other industrial facilities that he owns. [1] Abdulaziz, who holds US citizenship, first invested in Palestine in 2005 after returning from the United States and deciding to remain in Palestine, living in his hometown of al-Mazra'a al-Sharqiya, northeast of Ramallah. [1] He opened the quarry that was attacked nine years ago. [1] Since the start of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza in 2023, Abdulaziz has faced repeated attacks by Israeli settlers, who routinely smashed the windows of offices at the site, as well as the windows of bulldozers and other heavy machinery. [1] Around 20 settlers stormed the site and attacked three security guards with clubs, sticks and pepper spray. [1] The guards managed to escape after suffering broken arms. [1] Then the attackers set fire to trucks, excavators and bulldozers. [1]

Condemnation of Mosque Arsons

Palestine’s Supreme Fatwa Council condemned recent mosque arsons in Nablus and Tulkarm by Israeli occupiers as a systematic crime provoking Muslims. [3] Council condemns occupier attacks on places of worship after 2 mosques burned in Nablus, Tulkarm. [3]

Palestinian officials discuss revised Gaza ceasefire proposal during Cairo negotiations. — Source: anadolu

Palestinian Views on the Process

The priority has become ending the war, securing Israeli withdrawal and beginning reconstruction. [2] Samir al-Mashharawi said the movement seeks to resolve all outstanding issues ahead of signing and implementing the agreement. [2] He also stressed that any future arrangements must preserve the unity of Gaza and the occupied West Bank. [2] Gaza-based political analyst Wissam Afifa believes the most important development in Cairo is not that Hamas has offered new concessions, but that recent revisions to Mladenov's proposal appear to have received more positive signals from Washington. [2] Afifa said previous negotiation rounds centred on Hamas seeking guarantees that any flexibility it demonstrated would not simply trigger new Israeli demands. [2] He also linked the progress to Hamas's earlier decision to dissolve its Government Follow-up Committee and declare its readiness to transfer civilian administration to the National Committee. [2] Afifa noted that the revised weapons clause now limits discussions to heavy weapons and related capabilities, while placing them under the supervision of the National Committee rather than requiring their transfer to Israel. [2] Inside Gaza, the local residents are watching the negotiations with caution after repeated rounds of failed agreements and broken promises. [2] Abdel Salam Abu al-Qumsan, 45, who was displaced to Gaza City after his home in Jabalia refugee camp was destroyed, said years of disappointment have left him sceptical. [2] Firas Abu Kumail, a father of two from Gaza City, believes this round of negotiations could finally succeed if both sides honour their commitments. [2] Yaman al-Ghoul, 25, a civil servant in Gaza and the sole survivor of his family, told TNA that he hopes the understandings reached in Cairo finally protect public employees. [2]

Abdulaziz's Call for International Attention

Abdulaziz believes Israeli settler attacks specifically target Palestinians who also hold foreign passports to force them to leave the country and abandon their property so settlers can seize as much land as possible. [1] Together with his partners, he owns five companies employing 250 people. [1] Abdulaziz stressed that the quarry will not stop operating because it has contractual obligations with other companies. [1] It also supplies the cement and concrete factories that he owns with the raw materials they need, and shutting it down would result in even greater losses. [1] "US President Donald Trump will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Let him see what is happening and how it makes no difference to them whether the person they attack holds US or Palestinian citizenship," Abdulaziz said. [1] "They talk about terrorism, and this is terrorism itself. Settler terrorism is the real terrorism." [1]

What to watch next: With the Palestinian position now largely unified, officials argue responsibility for any further delay rests with Israel, while the real test is whether the United States and the mediators can ensure Israel implements what has been agreed.