Hamas Denies Disarmament Reports Amid Ceasefire Talks
The Palestinian militant group Hamas has denied media reports suggesting it agreed to surrender its weapons to an international body under US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan. The group criticized the claims as fabricated, stating its position is communicated only through official channels.
Earlier reports suggested Hamas had agreed to hand over its arsenal to a Palestinian-Egyptian body under international supervision and informed the US of its decision. However, Hamas swiftly denied these claims, calling them a distortion of its position and an attempt to confuse public opinion.
The group partially agreed to Trump’s plan on Friday, pledging to hand over surviving Israeli hostages and the bodies of the deceased, while also transferring governance of Gaza to a Palestinian authority. Despite this partial agreement, Hamas’s senior official Mousa Abu Marzook clarified that weapons would only be handed over to the future Palestinian state, and whoever governs Gaza would retain control of the arms.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza, which began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, has led to significant casualties and displacement, with Israeli military operations causing widespread destruction. The humanitarian situation remains dire, with local authorities reporting over 68,000 killed and nearly two million displaced. The situation underscores the complexity of the ongoing conflict and its far-reaching humanitarian impact.