Hamas must disarm, not disappear' from Gaza: Board of Peace's Mladenov

"We are not asking Hamas to disappear as a political movement, Mladenov told reporters on Wednesday at a rare news conference in Jerusalem. He said he could envision a political role for Hamas in post-war Gaza if the Palestinian group disarms. The phased ceasefire deal was paralysed over Hamas not yet disarming, calling it not negotiable. Disarmament remained a sticking point that stalled progress on other fronts, while Hamas blamed Israel for continuing to violate the truce."

"The first phase of the agreement saw the release of the last captives seized in southern Israel in October 2023, in exchange for Palestinians detained by Israel. The transition to the second phase envisioned Hamas handing over its weapons, Israeli forces withdrawing, and the rebuilding of destroyed swaths of the coastal enclave after more than two years of war. Seven months since the ceasefire came into force on October 10, humanitarian groups say Israel has not allowed the promised amount of aid in, while Hamas refuses to give up its arsenal, including rockets, antitank missiles, and explosives."

"The only way that we believe that we can ensure that Israeli withdrawal takes place to the perimeter is if we have the full element of the plan unfolding in Gaza, Mladenov said. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem responded to Mladenov, saying he should identify the party violating the ceasefire. Pressure must be exerted on the occupation to implement what was stated in the first phase and to enter into discussions regarding the second phase, Qassem said, adding that more than 850 Palestinian"

A US-brokered phased ceasefire in Gaza has stalled because Hamas has not disarmed. A diplomat overseeing the truce said Hamas need not disappear as a political movement, but disarmament is required for the second phase to proceed. The first phase involved releasing the last captives taken in southern Israel in October 2023 in exchange for Palestinian detainees held by Israel. The second phase calls for Hamas handing over weapons, Israeli forces withdrawing to the perimeter, and rebuilding destroyed areas. Humanitarian groups say Israel has not allowed the promised amount of aid in. Hamas says Israel is violating the truce and refuses to give up rockets, antitank missiles, and explosives while Israeli troops control more than half of Gaza.

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