Hamas said Friday it will begin disarming only if Israel halts its strikes and withdraws from the Gaza Strip [1, 2].
The statement follows a deal announced by U.S. President Donald Trump that envisions a phased disarmament of militant groups to end the conflict [1, 2]. The outcome of these negotiations determines whether a sustainable peace can be established or if the region will remain in a state of active warfare.
Under the terms of the proposal, President Trump announced a 60-day ceasefire [3]. This window is intended to provide the necessary stability for the disarmament process to begin. However, the implementation of this phase remains a point of contention between the parties involved.
Hamas said its willingness to disarm is conditional on Israel fulfilling its side of the bargain [1, 2]. The group said that the cessation of Israeli attacks, and the complete removal of Israeli forces from Gaza, are prerequisites to ensure its own security and maintain political leverage [1, 2].
There is a visible contradiction regarding the nature of the disarmament. While Hamas says the process is conditional, reports indicate that President Trump has called for Hamas to disarm in a manner that implies a demand for unconditional disarmament [1].
This disagreement highlights the gap between the U.S. administration's vision for the deal and the requirements set by the militant group. The phased approach suggested by the U.S. seeks to transition Gaza away from militant control, but Hamas said its security guarantees must come first [1, 2].
“Hamas said it will begin disarming only if Israel halts its strikes and withdraws from the Gaza Strip”
The tension between conditional and unconditional disarmament represents the primary obstacle to the U.S.-brokered peace plan. If Hamas refuses to disarm without a full Israeli withdrawal, and Israel refuses to withdraw without guaranteed disarmament, the 60-day ceasefire may serve as a temporary pause rather than a permanent resolution to the conflict.
