Hamas Official: Surrendering Our Weapons is "Out of the Question"

SadaNews - A Hamas official confirmed on Saturday that the demand for the disarmament of the movement, which was included in U.S. President Donald Trump's plan regarding Gaza, is "out of the question."

The official, who preferred to remain anonymous, told the French News Agency that "the issue of surrendering arms is off the table and not up for discussion."

These statements come on the second day of the ceasefire between Israel and the movement.

On Thursday, Israel and Hamas signed an agreement in the Egyptian city of Sharm El Sheikh, paving the way to end the war that has been ongoing in the Gaza Strip for two years, which includes a ceasefire and an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

However, the draft agreement did not reference some points included in Trump's plan, which stated in its twenty points the disarmament of Hamas and that an international transitional administration (the Peace Council) headed by Trump himself would govern the Gaza Strip after the war.

Trump indicated that the issue of Hamas surrendering its weapons would be addressed in the second phase of the peace plan.

Trump's plan promises amnesty for Hamas members who surrender their weapons and allows them to leave Gaza.