Deweaponising Hamas: Hardest part of Trump peace plan

Getting Israel’s hostages released from Gaza and stopping the war may have taken two years and the direct efforts of the American president and the leaders of several Arab and Muslim nations.

- DAVID M HALBFINGER & ADAM RASGON

Getting Israel’s hostages released from Gaza and stopping the war may have taken two years and the direct efforts of the American president and the leaders ofseveral Arab and Muslim nations.

Butthat wasalmost certainly the easy part. Getting Hamas to give up its weapons, and demilitarising the Gaza Strip — key preconditions for Israel to pull out of Gaza fully, as both US President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Monday — could prove alot harder.

Then there are the other issues in Trump’s 20-point plan, which outlined a comprehensive solution for Gaza. In full, italso called for the establishment of an international force to help maintain security in the territory, an ambitious effort to rebuild Gaza’s economy and infrastructure, and the creation ofatemporary Palestinian governingcommittee, whose work would be overseen by an international board.