Hamas "Cannot Promise Disarmament"… Trump Gaza Peace Plan 'Under Dark Clouds'

Political Bureau Member, Reuters Interview

Hamas Maintains Control of the Gaza Strip During Transition

Palestinian militant group Hamas, having agreed to the first phase of the Gaza peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, stated that it intends to continue to maintain security control of the Gaza Strip during the transition. It also avoided giving a clear answer on whether it would disarm, suggesting that the peace plan led by President Trump may not proceed smoothly.

Muhammad Nazzal, a member of Hamas's political bureau, said in a Reuters interview published on the 17th (local time), "You cannot definitively say 'yes' or 'no' to disarmament," and added, "It is not even clear to whom the weapons would be handed over."

He added that the issue of disarmament is not for Hamas alone to decide and needs to be discussed with all other Palestinian armed forces.

He said that during the transition, the administration of the Gaza Strip would be handled by a transitional government made up of technocrats, while Hamas would be responsible for maintaining security and on-the-ground control. He explained that this is a measure to prevent a security vacuum and the looting of relief supplies by armed gangs.

Nazzal defended the public executions carried out by Hamas militants on the 13th in Gaza City in northern Gaza Strip. He said, "There are always exceptional measures in wartime," and "Those executed are criminals who committed murder."

President Trump expressed strong anger over this. On his social network service (SNS) Truth Social the day before, President Trump warned, "If Hamas continues killings that are not in the ceasefire agreement, we have no choice but to go in and kill them."

Reuters explained that Nazzal's comments show that the road to an end of hostilities in the Gaza Strip remains difficult.

Earlier, on the 9th, Hamas agreed to the first phase of the Gaza peace plan proposed by President Trump. Accordingly, Hamas released all 20 surviving Israeli hostages, but handed over only 9 of the 28 hostage bodies it had agreed to return. Key issues in the second-phase negotiations include Hamas's disarmament and the establishment of a Gaza transitional administration excluding Hamas.

However, with the first phase not yet fully completed, difficulties in the second phase are expected as Hamas has shown a negative stance on disarmament and exclusion from governance.

Nazzal said that second-phase negotiations would begin soon. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office, responding to Nazzal's remarks, said, "Hamas must be disarmed according to the agreement. There is no 'if' and no 'but'," and pressured Hamas to comply with President Trump's 20-point peace plan.

Meanwhile, the Hamas-friendly Palestinian Quds News reported that at least 11 people died on that day on the outskirts of Gaza City due to an Israeli airstrike. According to the report, the victims were all from one family; the vehicle they were in was struck, and all were killed, including seven children and three women.

Park Su-rim, Hankyung.com reporter paksr365@hankyung.com