Hamas Conditions Disarmament on End of Occupation, Al-Hayya Claims

Khalil al-Hayya, the acting co-chair of Hamas’ political bureau, has stated that the group will only disarm if the “occupation” of Palestinian territories comes to an end. This declaration appears to contradict the framework established in the US-backed peace plan proposed by former President Donald Trump, which stipulates that Hamas would disarm following the return of hostages and the withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from Gaza.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, al-Hayya emphasized that disarmament is “linked to the presence of the occupation and aggression.” He further asserted that Hamas would only lay down its arms “if the occupation ends.” The term “occupation,” as defined by Hamas, often encompasses the very existence of Israel, complicating any prospects for peace.

Hamas and Palestinian Unity Efforts

During the same interview, al-Hayya announced that Hamas had reached an agreement with rival Palestinian factions, including Fatah, to establish a technocratic governing committee aimed at administering Gaza. However, he did not provide details regarding the timeline or the structure of this committee, nor whether Hamas officials would be involved in its operations. This announcement has sparked tension, particularly as both Israel and the United States have previously stated that Hamas should not have a role in Gaza’s future governance.

Fatah, the leading party in the Palestinian Authority, contradicted al-Hayya’s claims last week by dismissing the idea of a governing committee and reinforcing that the PLO remains the only legitimate entity to lead both the West Bank and Gaza.

Regional Perspectives on Peacekeeping

In a related development, Jordan’s King Abdullah addressed the proposed inclusion of an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in the peace plan during an interview with the BBC. Countries such as Indonesia, Pakistan, and Azerbaijan are expected to contribute troops to this force. Nevertheless, Israel has insisted that it must retain veto power over the involvement of any nation, particularly in light of concerns about potential Turkish military presence—an issue Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regards as a “red line.”

King Abdullah expressed skepticism about the feasibility of enforcing peace in Gaza through the ISF. He stated, “What is the mandate of security forces inside of Gaza? We hope that it is peacekeeping, because if it’s peace-enforcing, nobody will want to touch that.” The King highlighted the importance of supporting local Palestinian police forces, which Jordan and Egypt are prepared to assist in training. However, he cautioned that active military patrols would deter international involvement, saying, “If we’re running around Gaza on patrol with weapons, that’s not a situation that any country would like to get involved in.”

As discussions continue, the prospects for peace in the region remain uncertain, with divergent views among key players complicating the path forward.