Three well-informed Palestinian sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that negotiators in Cairo have proposed transferring 5,000 employees of the Hamas-run Gaza government from military-related positions to civilian roles as part of efforts to advance a Gaza ceasefire agreement. The proposal is intended to bridge differences over the fifth clause, covering public employees, and the eighth clause, dealing with weapons. The sources — one from Hamas, one from another Palestinian faction, and one from civil society familiar with the Cairo talks — said the plan calls for transferring 5,000 police personnel to civilian positions. Those who refuse the transfer would be placed into retirement. The Hamas source said negotiators had also drafted new language removing a provision that would have required the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza Board of Peace to assume responsibility for salary arrears owed to Hamas-affiliated employees since it took office. Instead, the committee would oversee the legal handling of employees’ rights under Palestinian law after a specialized body is established. The source described the transfer of the 5,000 police officers as a first phase. If Israel or the Board of Peace rejects their integration into the civilian workforce, they would be retired after undergoing security screening. A source from a Palestinian faction said an Arab country had expressed readiness to help resolve the issue by supporting the national committee responsible for paying the dues of Hamas-affiliated employees. The source added that the Democratic Reform Current, a breakaway faction from the Fatah movement led by Mohammed Dahlan, is helping narrow differences on several issues. Both the Hamas and factional sources said Nickolay Mladenov, the High Representative for the Board of Peace, has been fully briefed on the progress made through mediator-led understandings and is expected to participate in upcoming meetings. They said he is satisfied with progress on the fifth clause and is awaiting a final agreement on the weapons issue. A source from Mladenov’s team, however, said his participation in Cairo depends on the emergence of clear and comprehensive solutions, not merely what Hamas considers positive progress. The three Palestinian sources expressed optimism that agreement could be reached on the entire roadmap, including the employee and weapons provisions, after Hamas agreed to include “infrastructure” within the scope of what would be addressed alongside weapons. They said Palestinian factions have shown considerable flexibility to complete implementation of the remainder of the first phase and the entire second phase, while ensuring Israel is equally bound by the agreement. The mediators are expected to issue a statement outlining the understandings reached within hours. Despite the optimism, the sources warned that Israel could still derail the process, particularly with Knesset elections due in late October. They said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is unlikely to support any step that political rivals could portray as a victory for Hamas. The sources stressed that the United States has been informed of all understandings reached with the mediators, making Israel’s decision pivotal to whether progress is achieved. One Hamas source, however, questioned whether a meeting between President Donald Trump and Netanyahu would significantly alter Israel’s position. A Board of Peace official told Asharq Al-Awsat that vetting has been completed for an initial group of about 5,000 recruits, who are to be trained as part of a new Palestinian police force under the proposed US plan for governing Gaza. The official, citing remarks previously reported by The Times of Israel, said the council’s National Committee for the Administration of Gaza has received more than 200,000 applications since registration opened earlier this year. No timetable has been set for deploying the force, with its rollout dependent on conditions on the ground. The diplomatic efforts come as Israeli military operations continue. On Tuesday, Palestinians were killed in direct strikes, while Israeli warplanes destroyed a mosque in Gaza City and a house in Deir al-Balah, causing extensive damage in both locations.
