An Israeli government official said today that Hamas will disarm under US President Donald Trump’s plan. The statement came one day after a senior Hamas figure suggested freezing the group’s weapons.
“There will be no future for Hamas under (Trump’s) plan. The terrorist organisation will disarm. Gaza will demilitarise,” the anonymous official told AFP. He responded to Khaled Mashal’s Wednesday interview on Al Jazeera.
Hamas counter-proposal
Mashal, former deputy head of Hamas’s political bureau, rejected full disarmament. “Complete disarmament is unacceptable for the resistance,” he said. Hamas proposes a freeze or storage of weapons. This would guarantee no military escalation from Gaza against Israeli occupation.
Mashal believes mediators could accept this with a pragmatic US approach.
Phases of Trump’s plan
The first phase demands Hamas release all Israeli hostages; dead and alive. In exchange, Israel frees hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Only one hostage body remains in Gaza now.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he hopes the second phase starts soon. He announced a new meeting with Trump on 29 December.
The second phase has three stages. It includes Israeli forces withdrawing from Gaza. An international stabilisation force would deploy there. Hamas would disarm.
Hamas views on disarmament
“Disarmament for a Palestinian means ripping out his soul,” Mashal said.
Hamas accepts international forces along borders. It compares them to UNIFIL in southern Lebanon near Israel. These forces would separate Gaza from the occupation. They should not operate inside Gaza. Internal deployment would equal occupation, Mashal noted.
Guarantees and threats
Mediators, Arab and Muslim countries can guarantee no escalation from Palestinian territories.
“The danger comes from the Zionist entity, not Gaza,” Mashal said, referring to Israel.
Also read: Myanmar military air strike hits hospital, killing dozens
For more videos and updates, check out our YouTube channel.
