The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military arm of Hamas, have engaged in a debate regarding the disarmament issue for the first time in several months, following advanced discussions with mediators. Nikolai Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, emphasized the necessity of completing his proposal, which includes disarmament and not wasting time.
The stance of Al-Qassam emerged after a series of meetings held by the movement in Cairo, where they conditioned the implementation of the remaining terms of the first phase of the Gaza agreement on Israel, which pertains to the entry of aid and the opening of the Rafah crossing without restrictions. Experts speaking to Al-Mashhad noted that this position represents a division of roles to avoid pressure from mediators, especially given Israel's failure to adhere to the agreement.
Details of the Situation
Disarming Hamas is one of the key components of Mladenov's plan, which was announced at the UN Security Council in late March. The plan, according to international and regional media reports, includes the Palestinian movement agreeing to destroy the tunnel network and relinquish weapons in phases over eight months, with the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces contingent upon the final verification of Gaza being free of arms. Israel, for its part, has confirmed that it will not agree to withdraw from Gaza unless Hamas's weapons are surrendered first.
In a televised statement, Al-Qassam spokesman Abu Obeida stated that raising the issue of weapons in this manner is a blatant attempt by the occupation to continue killing and extermination against the Palestinian people, which the movement will not accept under any circumstances.
Context and Background
Academic expert on Israeli affairs, Ahmed Fouad Anwar, believes that what Al-Qassam is announcing reflects a reality where commitment comes from only one side, the Palestinians, while the Israeli side continues to commit violations. Anwar points out that the Palestinian side will not voluntarily surrender its weapons amid Netanyahu's hardline stance on this issue, which strengthens Al-Qassam's position.
Palestinian political analyst Abdul Mahdi Mtawe has noted that Al-Qassam's position reveals a division within Hamas that rejects Mladenov's framework, which could lead to a stagnation of the issue and a cycle of violence. Mtawe believes that Hamas is playing roles regarding its stance, as it will not explicitly say no to the disarmament issue but will seek to provide other reasons for procrastination.
Impact and Consequences
Al-Qassam's statements coincide with ongoing negotiations, as a Hamas delegation met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul following a round of talks in Cairo. Mtawe suggests that Hamas may seek to convince mediators to resolve the weapons issue with the administration of President Donald Trump, pointing to clear divisions within the movement between two factions; one political and the other aligned with Iran.
However, Anwar warns that the current trajectory of negotiations may remain hesitant, potentially leading to a return to square one in Gaza, which could draw Israel back into war. Additionally, Hamas's attempts to buy time may benefit Netanyahu's government in executing its plans in Gaza.
Significance for the Arab Region
These developments are of great importance to the Arab region, as they reflect the ongoing tensions between Palestinian factions and Israel. The failure to reach an agreement could exacerbate the humanitarian situation in Gaza and complicate relations between Hamas and regional countries.
In conclusion, the situation in Gaza remains tense, with Al-Qassam Brigades continuing to uphold their rejection of disarmament, placing further pressure on peace efforts in the region.