US adds clause to Gaza peace plan involving process to disarm Hamas

WASHINGTON — The US has added a clause to its comprehensive plan for ending the war in Gaza regarding the demilitarization of Hamas.

“There will be a process of demilitarization of Gaza under the supervision of independent monitors, which will include placing weapons permanently beyond use through an agreed process of decommissioning, and supported by an internationally funded buy back and reintegration program all verified by the independent monitors,” reads point 13 of the proposal published for the first time moments ago by the White House.

The Times of Israel obtained a copy of the proposal last week that did not include this line, leaving the issue of demilitarization up in the air.

But in the past several days, the US has taken in requests for edits to what was originally a 21-point plan from Arab and Muslim countries, along with Israel.

The addition is one of several made to the earlier proposal, which has been trimmed to 20 points.

Another change in the proposal is that Hamas will have 72 hours to release the hostages once a deal is reached, instead of 48 hours.

A new name has been given to the international advisory board for the transitional government of Palestinian technocrats that will govern the Strip after the war — “The Board of Peace.”

The board will be chaired by US President Donald Trump and include former UK prime minister Tony Blair, who helped crafted the proposal, the newly published plan states.

Notably, the US proposal drops the point that stated Israel would not again strike Qatar.

That was the edit that brought the proposal down to 20 points.

But Netanyahu earlier today publicly committed not to violate Qatar’s sovereignty again.