Hamas Refuses to Disarm, Insists on Retaining Gaza Security Control During Transition: Senior Official

By Orlin Milinov

Doha — Senior Hamas politburo member Mohammed Nazzal has declared that the group intends to maintain control of Gaza’s internal security during an interim phase and cannot commit to disarming, a stance that directly challenges U.S.-led efforts to secure a lasting end to the war.

In an interview with Reuters, Nazzal said Hamas was willing to observe a five-year ceasefire to rebuild the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, provided Palestinians are offered “horizons and hope” for eventual statehood. But he made clear that Hamas will not surrender its security apparatus or weapons without clarity on who would take control.

“I can’t answer with a yes or no,” Nazzal said when asked if Hamas would disarm. “Frankly, it depends on the nature of the project. The disarmament project you’re talking about — what does it mean? To whom will the weapons be handed over?”

He added that decisions on weapons and security would require agreement among all Palestinian factions, not just Hamas.

Challenge to Trump’s Gaza Plan

Nazzal’s comments expose the deep divisions between Hamas and U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan, which calls for Hamas to return all hostages, disarm completely, and hand over governance of Gaza to a technocratic committee overseen by an international transitional authority.

The plan — endorsed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — aims to dismantle Hamas’s military and political influence, ensuring Gaza “never again poses a threat to Israel.”

An Israeli government statement to Reuters accused Hamas of violating the terms of the truce, saying the group had failed to disarm or release all hostages.

“Hamas knows where the bodies of our hostages are,” the statement said. “They have not fulfilled the agreement. Hamas must adhere to the 20-point plan. They are running out of time.”

Casualties and the War’s Toll

According to Israeli tallies, Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people and abducted 251 others during the October 7, 2023 attacks that triggered the war. In response, Israel’s offensive has killed nearly 68,000 people in Gaza, according to local authorities — a figure that underscores the devastating scale of the conflict.

Hostages and Transitional Governance

Hamas has released all living hostages and handed over at least nine of 28 bodies recovered from the October 7 assault. Nazzal said the group is facing “technical problems” retrieving more bodies and that countries including Turkey and the United States may assist in the search.

A senior Turkish official confirmed that Ankara would join a joint task force with Israel, the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt to help locate the remaining bodies.

Nazzal also said that during Gaza’s transitional phase, Hamas would remain present on the ground to maintain order and prevent looting.

“This is a transitional phase,” he said. “Civilly, there will be a technocratic administration. On the ground, Hamas will be present.”

He added that elections should follow this interim period to establish legitimate governance in Gaza.

Ceasefire and the Future of Gaza

Nazzal said Hamas was ready for a three- to five-year truce, emphasizing that the goal was not to prepare for another war but to allow reconstruction and political progress.

“The goal isn’t to prepare for a future war,” he said. “The Palestinian people want an independent Palestinian state.”

He maintained that the long-term stability of the region depends on credible commitments toward Palestinian statehood, suggesting that without such guarantees, no peace plan would be sustainable.

The White House, responding to Nazzal’s remarks, cited Trump’s earlier statement reaffirming U.S. expectations.

“We have a commitment from them, and I assume they’re going to honor their commitment,” Trump said, without elaborating on Hamas’s disarmament status.

Despite ongoing diplomatic talks, Nazzal confirmed that Hamas has not been approached regarding the international stabilization force proposed in Trump’s ceasefire blueprint.