Will Hamas give up its weapons as part of peace deal?
In the wake of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call for Hamas to be disarmed, officials from the movement have rushed to react and roll out possible disarming scenarios.
US President Donald Trump said during his speech about the deal of the century Jan. 28 that the implementation of the deal requires putting an end to Hamas’ malicious “terrorist” activities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for his part, lauded on the same day the plan’s call for “Hamas to be disarmed and for Gaza to be demilitarized.”
In response to these Israeli and US calls, Hamas issued a series of reactions. Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political bureau, made it clear in press statements Feb. 5 that Hamas’ weapons shall not be part of any plan, and the movement’s strategy of developing a military force shall go so far as to include the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas' deputy head in Gaza, said in a press statement Jan. 28 that Trump’s declaration regarding the weapons of Hamas is just nonsense.
Mahmoud al-Zahar, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, told Palestine Today Jan. 28 that Israel had repeatedly tried to disarm Hamas, but to no avail, and this could only happen if Israel and the United States proceeded to kill all Palestinians.
