Hamas is progressing towards a deal involving the decommissioning of its weapons, sources familiar with the ongoing talks with mediators in Cairo told AFP Thursday.A Hamas source added, however, that they were still in the process of making amendments to the proposal.The thorny issue of Hamas’s disarmament has been one of the key sticking points in the advancement of the ceasefire deal that has been in place between Israel and the group in Gaza since October.Under US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza, the second phase of the ceasefire was to involve Hamas’s disarmament and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory.The plan also provides for a group of Palestinian technocrats, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), to assume day-to-day governance during Gaza’s transitional phase out of war.“We continue to advance the implementation roadmap that offers a balanced and pragmatic path forward, with all weapons decommissioned and a phased transition of responsibilities taking place to hand over full authority to the technocratic government,” a diplomatic source told AFP.The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak publicly on the matter, said there would be “no exceptions for certain weapons or certain people. One authority, one law, one weapon”.The roadmap would create “a process for the elimination of all tunnels, depots of weapons and any weapons production facilities”, the source said.“All weapons, heavy and light, will be under full control of the NCAG in co-ordination with and with the support of the ISF,” the source added, referring to the International Stabilisation Force, a fledgling body envisaged to comprise multinational troops operating under Trump’s Board of Peace.The source said a verification mechanism would ensure compliance by each side.A Hamas source familiar with the talks told AFP that the movement is “awaiting the Israeli response to the amendments we recently submitted to the mediators”.The source said the amendments concerned two articles in the roadmap presented by the Board of Peace.Regarding the article concerning weapons, the Hamas source said that “some points were removed, and alternatives were proposed”.The source said that the group was coming with a “positive and good” response, but did not say whether the group had agreed to fully disarm – a key sticking point in the talks over the past four months.The Palestinian movement wants Israel to commit to ending attacks on Gaza and withdrawing its forces.Sources close to Hamas said that the group was willing to “confine and store” heavy weapons under a Palestinian body, not hand them over to Israel.Hamas did not officially comment on the matter.“There is broad understanding on the definition of heavy weapons, and a formula has been developed that emphasises the concept of restricting and storing heavy weapons, disbanding armed groups and a simultaneous Israeli withdrawal,” the Hamas source added.Despite the ceasefire, violence has continued in Gaza, with Israeli strikes killing at least four people including two children on Thursday, according to health officials.The latest deaths add to a toll of more than 1,200 Palestinians, mostly civilians, killed by Israeli attacks since the ceasefire took effect, according to Gaza health officials.Four Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire.The Israeli military has continued to expand its military occupation of Gaza, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying that Israel intends to expand the area under its control to 70% of the enclave.So far, the NCAG has been based in Cairo without announcing a timeline for its entry into the Strip.It remains unclear how many forces would be available to deploy with the planned ISF, and whether Israeli troops would withdraw from the enclave.

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) has launched the “Zad Al-Mubta’ath” National Program for the Preparation and Education of Scholarship Students.It is the first comprehensive national programme aimed at preparing scholarship students set for travel, providing them with support and guidance throughout their studies. Addressing an orientation workshop organised by the ministry in Doha, Acting Director of the Scholarships Department at MoEHE Noura al-Ansari said the programme is a cultural and awareness-strengthening system that supports those students.She added that the programme-poised to kick off in August 2026 – wasn’t merely an orientation meeting that precedes travel, explaining that workshops and implementation mechanisms will be announced soon. The workshop was attended by Assistant Undersecretary for Higher Education Affairs at the Ministry Dr Hareb Aljabri, representatives of government entities and relevant institutions, alongside a host of ministry officials and students who had applied for government scholarships.Al-Ansari outlined that the programme brings together a team of trainers and experts from government agencies and partner institutions and covers key areas needed by scholarship students, including cultural and religious guidance, financial matters, safety and security, and personal data protection. This is alongside mental health, social, and academic support, al-Ansari highlighted, stating that the programme intends to help students navigate challenges throughout their study abroad journey.The ministry will also launch a dedicated online platform for the programme, allowing students to create personal accounts, communicate directly with advisors and experts, and receive ongoing support and answers to their inquiries throughout their studies, she noted.Al-Ansari remarked that the ministry is still accepting scholarship applications, noting that the number of applicants will be announced at a later date once the registration process is complete.She noted that technology-related fields, particularly Computer Engineering and Computer Science, were drawing remarkable turnout from students in both domestic and international scholarship programmes .Dr Abu Bakr Musa Abdullah, a consultant at the Ministry, for his part, emphasised that the programme came after the challenges encountered by scholarship students had been monitored and scrutinised throughout their years of study abroad.He added that the objective was to prepare them for various situations in advance. Dr Abdullah highlighted that the programme revolves around three core pillars: prevention, empowerment, and response. It focuses on equipping students with the knowledge and skills they need before departure, providing them with the resources necessary to succeed, and establishing an ongoing support system throughout their study abroad.The programme, he noted, includes five key tracks: religious and cultural guidance, mental health and social support, safety and digital security, financial literacy, and academic excellence. These tracks were developed based on the experiences of former scholarship recipients and a careful assessment of the key challenges they encountered while abroad, Abdullah underscored.Abdullah went on to remark that the religious and cultural guidance track addresses faith-related considerations related to travel, residence, and engagement with diverse communities. The mental health and social support track, he said, helps students adapt to life abroad and navigate challenges related to homesickness and integration, with the safety and digital security track strengthening awareness of personal data protection, cybersecurity, responsible social media use, and compliance with local laws in host countries.Dr Abdullah further explained that the programme also provides financial literacy training, along with academic success skills, including time management, research skills, and access to academic advisors, helping foster students’ opportunities for academic success and distinction. He emphasised that the ministry would establish a dedicated support and advising line that safeguards students’ privacy and confidentiality, as well as a digital student portal featuring a training library, educational resources, answers to frequently asked questions, and important contact information for entities in host countries. The programme will also create an online community for scholarship students and organise regular visits to their host institutions, ensuring ongoing support until graduation, Abdullah noted.Dr Abdullah emphasised that the programme aims to bolster scholarship students’ readiness, raise academic success rates, achieve psychological and social stability, and build a leadership-oriented character capable of representing the State of Qatar outstandingly. He added that the programme helps realise the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 by preparing scientifically and professionally qualified national talents capable of contributing to the nation’s future development.The workshop wrapped up with an open panel discussion during which Dr Aljabri, al-Ansari, Dr Abdullah, and preacher Mohammed Yahya Tahir answered the inquiries raised by students.They went over the most salient challenges students encounter throughout this scholarship journey, along with the mechanisms for utilising the services and paths this programme provides.