Hamas has rejected a plan to disarm the Gaza Strip, deepening the impasse in negotiations for the second phase of a ceasefire deal with Israel. A senior Palestinian official said the group would not engage in further talks without the full implementation of the conditions of the first phase.
According to sources, the plan proposed by international representatives, as part of Donald Trump's peace efforts, envisages the demilitarization of Gaza as a key step towards ending the war. But Hamas considers this condition unacceptable without concrete guarantees for Palestinian rights and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces.
On the other hand, Israel has made it clear that it will not move forward with the second phase without progress in disarming Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously warned that the group will disarm “willingly or by force.”
Hamas officials have listed several conditions for continuing negotiations, including a complete halt to military operations, the reopening of border crossings, the entry of humanitarian aid and the restoration of basic services in Gaza. They also demand the deployment of international forces to protect civilians.
Meanwhile, regional mediators are trying to avoid the complete failure of the peace process, while tensions remain high and the prospect of a long-term agreement still seems uncertain.
