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Mediators have given Hamas a formal proposal to lay down its weapons, a senior U.S. official told NPR. The proposal calls for Hamas and all other militant groups in Gaza to hand over all weapons, making an emerging governing authority responsible for all arms.
The Gaza war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people, according to Israel. Israel's massive military response killed more than 70,000 people in Gaza and left the coastal enclave in ruins, according to Palestinian health officials. Despite the fragile ceasefire agreement, over the last six months Israeli forces have killed hundreds of Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to Gaza health authorities, in what Israel says were attacks targeting Hamas militants. Several Israeli soldiers have also been killed in attacks by militants.The demilitarization proposal was handed over to Hamas last week in Cairo, an additional official in the region said. A third person briefed on the proposal called it a comprehensive framework to ensure the"complete handover" and"full decommissioning" of arms belonging to Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza, and that if Hamas accepts the proposal, it would ensure large-scale reconstruction of Gaza.Hamas has been asked to respond to the proposal in about a weeks time, after the Muslim Eid holiday. Senior Hamas officials did not immediately comment, and one Hamas official denied having received a proposal.SHEFFIELD, U.K., and JERUSALEM — The demilitarization proposal was handed over to Hamas last week in Cairo, an additional official in the region said. A third person briefed on the proposal called it a comprehensive framework to ensure the"complete handover" and"full decommissioning" of arms belonging to Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza, and that if Hamas accepts the proposal, it would ensure large-scale reconstruction of Gaza. The person said Hamas has been asked to respond to the proposal in about a weeks time, after the Muslim Eid holiday. Senior Hamas officials did not immediately comment, and one Hamas official denied having received a proposal. Hamas and Israel signed on to President Trump's ceasefire deal last October, in an effort to end two years of war that have devastated Gaza and triggered conflicts across the Middle East. Trump's Board of Peace was established to oversee efforts to demilitarize Hamas, establish a multinational stabilization force for Gaza and ensure an Israeli military withdrawal from the territory. Hamas officials said they were willing to discuss their weapons but had been waiting for a formal proposal from mediators. The work of the Board of Peace has been largely put on hold, however, since the U.S. and Israel launched the war against Iran on Feb. 28, triggering a new regional conflict that has engulfed more than a dozen countries. The members of the new Palestinian transitional committee tasked to run postwar Gaza have still not entered the territory, and no new Palestinian police force or multinational force has been formed. Despite the fragile truce agreement, Israeli forces have killed hundreds of Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to Gaza health authorities. Israel says the attacks targeted Hamas militants. Several Israeli soldiers have also been killed in attacks by militants. Robert Danin, a former senior U.S. State Department and White House official specializing in the Middle East, said it was unlikely Hamas would be in any hurry to deliver its response to the demilitarization proposal or agree to it. "Hamas sees time as being on its side right now," Danin said."With each passing day, its influence and control on the ground in Gaza strengthens and expands, particularly as long as the Board of Peace's proposed alternative governance structures and forces for Gaza remain stuck outside of the strip. So the longer Hamas can prolong this status quo, the stronger it sees its hand growing for any day after." Danin said the distraction caused by the war with Iran would also likely draw attention away from pressuring Hamas. "This means that for the Board of Peace and those seeking to disarm Hamas, the key question is what tools does it have to see Hamas adopt this plan?" he said. The Gaza war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people, according to Israel. Israel's massive military response killed more than 70,000 people in Gaza and left the coastal enclave in ruins, according to Palestinian health officials. Despite the fragile ceasefire agreement, over the last six months Israeli forces have killed hundreds of Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to Gaza health authorities, in what Israel says were attacks targeting Hamas militants. Several Israeli soldiers have also been killed in attacks by militants.is a general assignment reporter. She covers the news that shapes Los Angeles and how people change the city in return.South Pasadena has canceled a contract with Flock Safety, a controversial surveillance company that operates AI-powered cameras in communities around the U.S. The cameras capture the license plate numbers and locations of passing cars.The City Council made the decision to stop operating 14 cameras Wednesday, following reports that some local law enforcement agencies in Southern California illegally shared data collected by Flock with federal immigration agents. The city still has 13 Flock cameras under a second contract with the company.The South Pasadena City Council moved Wednesday not to renew a contract with Flock Safety, a controversial surveillance company that operates AI-powered automated license plate readers in thousands of communities across the U.S. The move ends the use of 14 cameras installed around town while city officials seek alternative camera vendors. The city still has a second contract with Flock for 13 operating cameras, which capture the license plate numbers and locations of passing cars. That information is temporarily stored in a database that's shared with law enforcement agencies across the state."We probably wouldn't be here tonight if it'd been a different federal administration. We could trust more, not so much chaos," City Councilmember Michael Cacciotti said at Wednesday's meeting."Many of our residents are very concerned about the misuse and abuse of data." The decision was not unanimous. City Councilmember Jon Primuth said he thought people speaking out against Flock did not represent the majority of residents in South Pasadena. He also expressed concern about moving to a different vendor for automated license plate readers, since so many surrounding cities use the Flock network. Pasadena and San Marino both have Flock cameras, as do many cities in the L.A. area.Council members also discussed shortening the time period that the city holds onto its data from 30 to 15 days. South Pasadena joins a handful of California cities that have reconsidered their contracts with Flock in recent months. The first was Santa Cruz, which killed its contract with FlockThe Oxnard Police Department also suspended its use of Flock license plate readers, after an audit revealed that data from the city's cameras was made available to federal law enforcement agencies between February and March of 2025 through a"nationwide query" setting, against the city's wishes and state law. Flock responded to the incident, saying out-of-state law enforcement agencies' access to some of its camera networks was"inadvertent" and it had strengthened its protections. The company also says it does not work with ICE or any agency within the Department of Homeland Security. The incidents have sparked a deeper debate around automated license plate readers, which have become ubiquitous in many communities without much notice. Local law enforcement agencies say the cameras have greatly enhanced their ability to solve crimes, while privacy advocates including the ACLU have called the technology a dangerous"dragnet." Nowruz, the Persian New Year, literally “new day,” starts Friday, an ancient celebration that marks the beginning of spring, new life, and the triumph of light over darkness.When I visited Rezaie’s professional kitchen in Lake Forest earlier this week, she methodically packed the small, elegant boxes of cookies, securing each order with a wax seal imprinted with the letter “M” for her bakery and catering company, ”These are all very old recipes,” she said. “ When you eat them, it tastes very familiar. … I just redesign or redefine them and I have my own twist to the way that I present them.” Rezaie and her assistants prepare boxes of cookies for shipping out of Maison de la Fork's kitchen in Lake Forest.This year, though, the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has severely curbed the celebratory nature of the holiday, especially in Iran, but also among Iranian-Americans like Razaie. “It was very hard baking and happily baking with all the war and the death that is going on,” she said. “Should we even consider selling the cookies this year as a part of a celebratory program?” she wondered. “Because we do not want to celebrate this time. But then we all decided, ‘No, we want to keep Nowruz going.’ It's a duty that we just keep it going,” she said.Achieving a cookie that is, at once, delicious, not overly sweet, and gorgeous is a rare feat and one that Rezaie has mastered. Opening a box of her Nowruz cookies is like opening an elegant gift. A hint of cardamom hits the nose while the colors and patterns exude Spring.Among Rezaie’s specialties are sugar cookies topped with pressed, edible pansies in purple and yellow hues. Pansies are a common feature of Norwuz, and for Rezaie they have a special significance, a tribute to her late father. “Every time the spring comes around, Nowruz, he used to buy boxes of pansies and he used to plant them in our backyard,” she said. Rezaie’s version of walnut cookies, which are typical during Nowruz, are molded to look like actual walnuts and filled with salted caramel and walnut chunks. Other specialties include, an Iranian treat similar to marzipan, which she rolls into multicolored balls and stacks into impossible-looking towers topped with a bow.which she tops with a thin layer of white icing as a canvas for tiny, hand-painted flowers. “Normally it's only me that does all the painting,” Rezaie said. “So many people are telling me I should get a stamp, I'm like, ‘No, I want to just suffer through and do the hand painting." More than 1,300 people have been killed in Iran since Israel and the U.S. launched their joint offensive last month, according to the, a humanitarian relief group. Like many in the diaspora, Rezaie hopes the bloodshed will lead to the downfall of the current regime.Until she can visit, Rezaie will be baking cookies and other sweets, sending a bit of spring hope to what she considers a vast extended family in the Persian diaspora.If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.The Inglewood Planning Commission voted earlier this month to recommend a change to the city code to allow properties with large lots near the city’s stadiums to sell parking spaces to visitors. The code amendment will go before the City Council for a vote, though no date has been announced.Since 2021, the city has allowed some non-residential properties on major arterial roads to charge visitors for parking during major events at the city’s large venues. The updated code would expand the permit zone to allow the same right to houses of worship and commercial businesses within 1,500 feet, or about a quarter mile, of any venue with more than 6,000 seats.Churches and businesses with lots in the newly expanded zone would still be required to apply for permits and meet some basic standards.The Inglewood Planning Commission voted earlier this month to recommend a change to the city code to allow properties with large lots near the city’s stadiums to sell parking spaces to visitors. The code amendment will go before the City Council for a vote, though no date has been announced. Since 2021, the city has allowed some non-residential properties on major arterial roads to charge visitors for parking during major events at the city’s large venues. The updated code would expand the permit zone to allow the same right to houses of worship and commercial businesses within 1,500 feet, or about a quarter mile, of any venue with more than 6,000 seats. Bernard McCrumby Jr., the city’s development services director, said the tweak opens a financial opportunity to a new crop of businesses and churches, while ideally reducing the number of visiting cars that park in Inglewood’s neighborhoods during major events.Planning Commissioner Cheryl Shaw-Williams said she hopes the newly opened lots charge a reasonable amount. She said game day visitors have told her in the past that they’ve chosen to “bite the bullet” and park in residential areas because it can be cheaper to pay a parking ticket than pay for stadium parking. Inglewood issues an average of about 41 parking tickets during each major event, according to meeting documents. The city has received inquiries from several houses of worship and businesses that want to sell parking spots and are located near, but not within, permitted zones. Churches and businesses with lots in the newly expanded zone would still be required to apply for permits and meet some basic standards. Lots must have more than 25 spaces to start, can only rent out excess spaces and can’t be rented out within an hour of a property’s regular business hours. Permit applicants will be required to commission a parking utilization study. Planning Commissioner Aidé Trejo said during the March 4 meeting that she is concerned, in spite of the restrictions, that churches will ask Sunday service-goers to park on the streets in order to make a profit off of their lots.McCrumby replied that some churches may alter their service times to get parishioners in and out before game day traffic and to take advantage of the new parking code.a public dashboard of settlements between the county and its executives, including their names, settlement amounts, approval dates and links to the agreements. The unanimous action also directed that going forward, the county will make sure all such settlements are reported to the public on meeting agendas after they’re finalized.“Los Angeles County residents deserve full transparency into how their taxpayer dollars are spent — including on legal settlements,” Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who proposed the changes, said in a statement. “I will continue leading common-sense reforms that strengthen accountability and build trust with our communities.”that two months earlier, current county CEO Fesia Davenport had quietly gotten a $2 million settlement payment. Davenport’s settlement deal was labeled “confidential” and kept secret even though it’s required to be disclosed to the public upon request under state law.Davenport was one of several county executives to receive sizable settlement payouts over the past few years. Four additional county executives received payouts — including a $1.5 million payout to her predecessor — according to Davenport’s claims that led to her settlement.. A lawyer for the county has called the suit “baseless,” saying the settlement served a “legitimate public purpose" by avoiding potential litigation.
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