As the Palestinian militant group Hamas avoids giving a definite answer regarding disarmament, difficulties are expected in advancing the peace initiative led by U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to foreign media reports on the 17th (local time), Muhammad Nazal, a member of the Hamas Political Bureau, stated, "We cannot answer yes or no to disarmament," adding, "It is not even clear to whom we would be handing over our weapons." He explained that the issue of disarmament is not a matter for Hamas alone to decide, but requires discussion with all other Palestinian armed factions.
Member Nazal said that Hamas is prepared to agree to a ceasefire lasting three to five years in order to rebuild the devastated Gaza Strip. He added, "Any commitments regarding actions after the ceasefire will depend on whether Palestinians are presented with prospects and hope for nation-building."
Member Nazal explained that during the transitional period, the administration of the Gaza Strip would be handled by a transitional government composed of technocrats, while Hamas would be responsible for maintaining security and control on the ground.
Previously, on the 9th, Hamas agreed to the first phase of the Gaza peace initiative proposed by President Trump. Hamas released all 20 surviving Israeli hostages but returned only 9 out of the 28 bodies of hostages it had agreed to hand over. The core issues of the second phase of negotiations include the disarmament of Hamas and the establishment of a transitional administration in Gaza that excludes Hamas. However, since the first phase has not yet been fully completed, and as Hamas maintains a negative stance on both disarmament and exclusion from governance, the negotiations are expected to face challenges.
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