The Lead
The Hamas terror organization published the full text of its Friday statement, outlining a series of rigid conditions for discussing the inclusion of heavy weaponry in the second phase of the emerging Gaza agreement. According to the text obtained by Israeli media, the group's willingness to address its arsenal is contingent upon a total cessation of hostilities, a complete IDF withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and the guaranteed establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
The statement, reported by Amichai Stein (i24NEWS) and other Israeli outlets, provides the most detailed look yet at Hamas's internal framing of the disarmament process. While the group has reportedly agreed to a U.S.-brokered framework in principle, this latest document emphasizes that any discussion regarding heavy weapons will only occur during the second phase of the deal and remains subject to several high-level demands.
The List of Conditions
According to the published text, Hamas requires the entry of an administrative committee and an international protection force to oversee the Strip. Notably, the group also demands the dismantling of what it characterizes as "armed militias established by the occupation," a term it has previously used to refer to local Palestinian groups or security entities linked to Israel. Additional conditions include the full reconstruction of Gaza and the realization of the right to self-determination through statehood.
Context of the Negotiations
This development follows earlier reports today that Hamas negotiator Razi Hamed tied the weapons issue directly to Israeli withdrawal and reconstruction. As The Zioneer reported earlier on Friday, other drafts published by the Gaza Peace Council and Al Jazeera have suggested a phased handover of "resistance weapons" to a national committee under international oversight. However, the current statement reinforces the terror group's stance that it will not take practical steps toward disarmament until Israel fulfills all commitments from the first phase of the agreement.
Analysis and Outlook
The insistence on Palestinian statehood and the dismantling of Israeli-linked security elements as preconditions for discussing heavy weapons suggests a significant gap between Hamas's public rhetoric and the "zero trust" disarmament model proposed by the Trump administration. While the framework aims for a "one authority, one law, one weapon" reality, Hamas continues to frame its arsenal as a legitimate tool of resistance that will only be surrendered in exchange for maximalist political achievements. The security establishment remains focused on verifying the destruction of tunnel infrastructure, which remains a primary concern regardless of the diplomatic framing.
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