A Hamas Leader on Disarming: I Cannot Say Yes or No

SadaNews - A Hamas leader spoke on Friday about the issue of the movement's weapons, which is a major point of contention in the Gaza agreement.

Mohammed Nazal, a member of Hamas's political bureau, told "Reuters": "I cannot answer yes or no about whether Hamas will give up its weapons."

Nazal added: "The issue of weapons is a national public matter and does not only concern Hamas, as there are other factions active on the ground that have weapons."

The positions of Hamas reflect the difficulties facing U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the two-year Gaza war in which tens of thousands of Palestinians were killed.

The leader affirmed that Hamas "will be present on the ground" during a transitional period led by a technocratic administration.

He stated: "The presence of the movement on the ground is important to protect aid trucks from thieves and armed gangs."

On another note, Nazal emphasized the need for general elections after the transitional phase.

He said: "Hamas wants a ceasefire lasting between 3 to 5 years to rebuild the Gaza Strip, not to prepare for an upcoming war."