Hamas intends to retain security control in Gaza during an interim period and cannot commit to disarmament, a senior Hamas leader told Reuters, highlighting the challenges to US efforts to end the conflict.
Mohammed Nazzal, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, said the group was open to a ceasefire lasting up to five years to rebuild the war-torn Gaza Strip, with future guarantees tied to providing Palestinians “horizons and hope” for statehood.
Speaking from Doha, Nazzal defended Hamas’s recent public executions, stating that such “exceptional measures” were necessary during wartime and targeted criminals.
His comments underscore deep divisions between Hamas’s stance and US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, which calls for Hamas to return all hostages, disarm, and cede control to a technocratic body overseen by an international administration.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports the plan, saying it would dismantle Hamas’s military and political power. According to local authorities, Israel’s military has killed nearly 68,000 people in Gaza.
When asked about disarmament, Nazzal replied, “I can’t answer with a yes or no. 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 said the issue concerns all Palestinian factions and would be decided collectively.
Trump said on Thursday, “We have a commitment from them and I assume they’re going to honor their commitment,” though he did not elaborate on disarmament.
Nazzal said Hamas had handed over nine of the 28 bodies of hostages killed in the 7 October 2023 attacks, citing technical difficulties in retrieving the others. Turkey, the US, and Qatar may assist in recovery efforts.
He stated, “This is a transitional phase. On civil matters, there will be a technocratic administration, as I said. On the ground, Hamas will be present.”
According to Nazzal, Hamas has suggested a long-term truce in meetings with US officials and wants a truce of at least three to five years to rebuild the Gaza Strip. “The goal isn’t to prepare for a future war,” he said.
He added, “The Palestinian people want an independent Palestinian state.”
