A senior Hamas official announced the movement’s readiness to discuss “freezing or storing” its weapons as part of a ceasefire agreement with Israel.
A member of Hamas’s political bureau, Basem Naim told the Associated Press in Doha, “We are open to adopting a comprehensive approach to avoid further escalation or to prevent any further clashes or explosions.”
He added that the movement retains its “right to resist” but is prepared to lay down its arms as part of a process aimed at establishing a Palestinian state.
Naim suggested a five or ten-year truce to allow for comprehensive discussions, saying, “We can talk about freezing, storing, or laying down weapons, with Palestinian guarantees that they will not be used at all during the ceasefire or truce period.”
The ceasefire is based on a 20-point plan presented by US President Donald Trump in October, with the participation of international parties as “guarantor states.”
Naim noted that “the plan requires further clarification.”
The deployment of an international stabilization force remains one of the most prominent outstanding issues.
Naim stressed that Hamas rejects the idea of this force disarming the movement, but welcomes its presence “near the border to monitor the ceasefire agreement, report violations, and prevent any potential escalation.”
Hamas will not accept “granting these forces any mandate that would authorize them to intervene within Palestinian territory,” he added.
