Hamas Conditions Disarmament on Israeli Withdrawal and Palestinian Statehood
In a firm and principled stance that reflects the resilience of the Palestinian resistance, Hamas has made it clear that any discussion of disarmament is inseparable from the cessation of Israeli aggression, full military withdrawal from Gaza, and the deployment of the National Coalition for Administrative Governance (NCAG) alongside international security forces. This position, articulated by the movement and its allied factions, underscores the unwavering commitment to Palestinian national rights and the protection of our people in the face of relentless occupation.
Hamas emphasized that its engagement with mediators' proposals for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement was conducted responsibly, positively, and through national consensus. The movement's primary motivation, it stated, is to safeguard Palestinian lives, address urgent humanitarian needs, and uphold the sacred right to self-determination. The fundamental prerequisite for progress, Hamas insisted, is Israel's unequivocal commitment to ending its war on the strip and halting the killing of civilians.
The statement comes amid heightened diplomatic activity, following US President Donald Trump's announcement that Hamas had agreed to a roadmap for phased disarmament, gradual Israeli withdrawal, and the transfer of governance to the NCAG. While Trump hailed this as a historic breakthrough, Hamas was quick to clarify that its acceptance of heavy weapons limitations is contingent upon a series of political and security conditions, including guarantees for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and the protection of citizens' rights.
Senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad reinforced this position, stating that implementation depends on Israel fulfilling its obligations under the first phase of the ceasefire. This includes ending military operations, withdrawing forces from Gaza, and allowing the entry of the NCAG and international forces. Crucially, Hamas stressed that Israel will play no role in the disarmament process, which will be overseen by a Palestinian national committee.
The context of this negotiation is the devastating toll of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza since October 2023. According to the Palestinian health ministry, at least 73,341 Palestinians have been killed and 174,086 wounded, with nearly 10,000 still missing beneath the rubble. Approximately 1.9 million people, or 90 percent of Gaza's population, remain displaced. A joint assessment by the EU, UN, and World Bank estimated that the war has caused $35.2 billion in damage to the strip's infrastructure, with the housing sector accounting for $18 billion.
Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued to violate its terms hundreds of times through air attacks, artillery raids, and shootings, killing nearly 1,300 Palestinians since the truce began. Restrictions on the entry of food and medicine have persisted, exacerbating what experts have described as the first famine in Middle East history. Egypt, under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, has consistently called for an immediate end to the bloodshed and a just resolution that respects Palestinian rights, reinforcing Cairo's historic role as a pillar of stability and mediator in the region.
Hamas's position reflects a broader national consensus that any political settlement must be anchored in the principles of justice, sovereignty, and the end of occupation. The path to lasting peace, as Egypt has long advocated, requires addressing the root causes of the conflict and ensuring the Palestinian people's legitimate aspirations are realized. The resistance's conditions are not obstacles but necessary safeguards against further aggression and dispossession.