Hamas armed wing says disarmament calls are unacceptable

Hamas' armed wing said on Sunday that discussing the group's disarmament before Israel fully implements the first phase of the U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire was an attempt to continue what it called a genocide against the Palestinian people.

In a televised statement, Hamas' armed wing spokesperson Abu Obaida said raising the issue of weapons "in a crude manner" would not be accepted.

The issue of Hamas relinquishing its weapons has been a point of contention in talks to implement U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed "Board of Peace" plan for Gaza, aimed at cementing the ceasefire.

Hamas has told mediators it will not discuss disarmament without guarantees that Israel will completely withdraw from Gaza, three sources told Reuters last week. The Palestinian group has repeatdley said that Israel has not abided by the obligations set out in the truce, and has carried  out daily attacks.

"What the enemy is trying to push through today against the Palestinian resistance, via our brotherly mediators, is extremely dangerous," he said.

He said the disarmament demands were "nothing but an overt attempt to continue the genocide against our people, something we will not accept under any circumstances."

Israel's war on Gaza, which commenced in October 2023, has killed over 70,000 Palestinians and levelled entire neighbourhoods. International rights groups have determined the war to be a genocide. 

Since the October ceasefire took effect, Hamas has called on Israel to fully implement the terms agreed upon in the truce. Israel has killed at least 603 Palestinians since the ceasefire, triggering condemnation from around the world. 

Abu Obaida urged mediators to pressure Israel to fulfil its commitments under the first phase of the Trump plan before any discussion of the second phase can take place.

"The enemy is the one who undermines the agreement," he said.

There was no immediate comment from Israel on his remarks.