Hamas official says disarmament ‘out of question’

Palestinian militant group Hamas said Saturday that the circulated questions whether the outfit will disarm themselves remains of no use as Hamas ‘ disarmament is a part of the US President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza.

“The proposed weapons handover is out of the question and not negotiable,” the Palestinian group’s official said.

The US president has indicated that the issue of Hamas surrendering its weapons would be addressed in the second phase of the peace plan. The first phase of the peace deal was about to end the attacks from both sides within a period of 24 hours, according to President Trump’s peace plan. The president also added that  hostages will be released “on Monday or Tuesday.”

The 20-point plan promises amnesty to Hamas members who decommission their weapons and says they will be allowed to leave Gaza.

The Hamas official was speaking as a ceasefire holds in Gaza ahead of Monday’s 72-hour deadline for the release of Israeli hostages held since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks.

Hamas’s disarmament and the pullback of Israeli forces are seen as key sticking points for Trump’s plan despite rising hopes for the end of two years of devastating war.