Hamas says Palestinians cannot lay down arms, demands Israeli military withdrawal

As negotiations continue in Egypt, Hamas has demanded clear terms regarding the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Palestinian territories. The group expressed concern that US President Donald Trump’s so-called peace plan for Gaza failed to specify whether Israeli troops would leave the enclave.

The 20-point plan is currently being discussed between Israel and Hamas, with regional powers also involved in efforts to halt the ongoing military offensive and secure a ceasefire by the end of the talks. Several points, however, remain contentious and could complicate progress, though Trump appears confident that his proposal will succeed.

Among the most disputed clauses is one that calls for Gaza to be cleared of weapons and for all armed individuals to surrender to a joint Palestinian-Egyptian committee. On October 5, a senior Hamas official dismissed these reports as “baseless.”

According to Al Jazeera, multiple Palestinian factions, including Hamas, have firmly rejected any notion of complete disarmament. They argue that such a demand contradicts Trump’s proposal to “clean Gaza of arms” or compel Hamas to withdraw entirely.

While the discussions are still underway, no deadline has been set for the conclusion of the talks. The plan would reportedly take effect only after Hamas returns all 48 hostages to Israel, some of whom are believed to be dead.

Hamas, however, may release the detainees gradually once a new government is established. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains intent on eliminating Hamas from Gaza and disarming the strip so that it “never poses a threat to Israel.”

On the other hand, when Trump was asked whether the planwas viable, he abruptly stated that he would “utilize his power” if negotiations fail to produce a viable outcome.

“We are going to do everything possible. We have a lot of power, and we’re going to do everything possible to make sure everybody adheres to the deal,” Trump added.