Hamas's military wing has drawn a hard line in ongoing ceasefire negotiations, categorically refusing to discuss disarmament prior to full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. In a televised address Sunday, armed wing spokesperson Abu Obeida condemned what he called "crude" pressure from mediators to surrender weapons, framing the demand as fundamentally incompatible with Palestinian survival.
"What we will not accept under any circumstances is an overt attempt to continue the genocide against our people," Obeida said, signaling that disarmament remains non-negotiable without iron-clad Israeli guarantees. Sources familiar with the talks told Reuters that Hamas has explicitly told mediators it will not consider weapons surrender unless Israel completely exits Gaza first—a sequencing demand that cuts to the heart of current stalemate.
The weapons issue stands as perhaps the most significant obstacle to implementing U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed roadmap for Gaza. The 20-point plan, brokered with Qatari assistance, explicitly requires Hamas to disarm as part of reconstruction efforts. But Hamas views this requirement as a security trap that would leave Palestinians defenseless.
The ceasefire, which began in October, has proven fragile. According to Palestinian sources, more than 705 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations since the truce nominally took effect—a statistic Hamas cites as justification for maintaining its armed capacity. The larger conflict, which erupted following October 2023 attacks on southern Israel, has claimed over 72,000 Palestinian lives.
Obeida directed sharp criticism at mediators, insisting they pressure Israel to uphold its first-phase commitments before any discussion of subsequent phases. "The enemy is the one who undermines the agreement," he stated, shifting responsibility for negotiation failures to Israeli leadership. His remarks stopped short of formally rejecting Trump's plan, though the tone suggested Hamas's patience with the process is wearing thin.
Originally reported by Al Jazeera English. Rewritten for ABN12.