A senior Hamas official told Reuters that the group intends to maintain security control in Gaza during the interim period and cannot promise complete disarmament, further complicating US plans for a permanent end to the war.
Mohammed Nazzal, a member of the Hamas politburo, said the group is ready for a ceasefire of up to five years, with the condition that the Palestinians gain hope for the establishment of a state after that.
Hamas reiterates that it cannot confirm the full handover of weapons, stressing that it “depends on the nature of the project” and to whom the weapons would be handed over.
Nazzal assures that the topics of disarmament and the future role of control forces will be the subject of further negotiations, not only for Hamas but also for other armed Palestinian groups.
The White House stressed that the US expects Hamas to honor its commitments under the ceasefire plan, including the release of hostages and disarmament.
Hamas has so far handed over nine of the 28 bodies of the slain hostages, claiming there are technical obstacles to finding the others.
Nazzal says that Hamas “on the ground” needs to be in a transitional phase to protect the delivery of aid and prevent criminal groups. After that stage, elections are planned.
Trump’s plan calls for a full handover of power in Gaza to a technocratic body under international supervision, but Hamas insists there is no return to war if they deny an “alternative and hope” for the Palestinians.
(Vijesti.ba)
