As the Gaza truce reaches a critical phase, Hamas presents its own vision for disarmament
Khaled Meshaal told Arab news channel that the Palestinian group is seeking US approval for its disarmament proposal, which remains a key obstacle in the second phase of the ceasefire plan
The head of Hamas’s external leadership, Khaled Meshaal, is working to persuade the United States to accept the group’s own “vision” for handling disarmament and its military arsenal — a central obstacle in the second phase of the two-month ceasefire with Israel.
In an interview with an Arab news channel on Wednesday, Meshaal said Hamas seeks to “establish guarantees that prevent any future return to war between Gaza and the Israeli occupation”. This includes the possibility of handing over weapons, though the group insists on having a say in how the process unfolds.
“As we move toward the second phase, the real challenge begins. There are parties trying to impose their terms on us — including what the Israeli prime minister demands, to seize our weapons by any means, even force. Our people reject this,” Meshaal said.
He explained that Hamas wants an arrangement ensuring its weapons are “secured, hidden, unused, and not displayed”, and said the group has already proposed a long-term truce lasting seven to ten years.
Meshaal also outlined ideas for maintaining the fragile ceasefire, which Israel has breached more than 700 times since it began, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office. The first phase — focused on prisoner and captive exchanges — is now nearing completion.
Israel has continued restricting humanitarian aid into Gaza despite the truce terms, leaving hundreds of thousands to endure Storm Byron in makeshift shelters.
The more contentious second phase will address Israeli withdrawal, Palestinian disarmament, and the formal end of the war.
Meshaal said mediators were discussing Hamas’s disarmament approach with Washington, warning that handing over weapons prematurely would be like “removing the movement’s soul”.
He suggested that advancing to the second phase under Hamas’s plan was realistic, saying a more pragmatic American approach could help bring about agreement.
“With the practical mindset of the Americans — who want the same outcome but are flexible on the methods — and with the help of mediators and our allies, I believe we can reach a vision acceptable to the US administration and binding for Israel,” Meshaal said.
He added that Gaza faces threats from Israel, not from its own fighters, “whose disarmament they demand”.
Hamas was formed in the late 1980s during the first Intifada, with its armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, emerging soon afterward. The group has governed Gaza since winning the 2006 elections.
Under the phased peace plan brokered by the administration of US President Donald Trump in early October, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups would ultimately hand over their weapons to an international peacekeeping force, ending nearly two decades of Hamas rule. Israeli officials see this as essential, warning that without it the truce could collapse.
Despite Israel’s frequent violations — resulting in 377 deaths since the truce began — the ceasefire has mostly held, though Israel still occupies more than half of Gaza. More than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 170,000 injured since the start of the war, according to Gaza health authorities.
Only the remains of one captive taken during the October 2023 attacks remain in Gaza. Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including bodies of detainees who died in custody, have been returned — many showing signs of torture and execution.
Mediators have stressed the urgency of coordination as the ceasefire reaches what Qatar’s prime minister called “a critical moment”. A US official confirmed ongoing intensive talks to move into phase two, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the first phase was nearly finished.
A previous ceasefire brokered by Trump collapsed at the end of its first phase when Israel abruptly resumed military operations, killing 400 people on the first day.
At the Doha Forum, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged patience regarding Hamas’s disarmament, stressing it would not happen immediately and must follow a realistic, orderly process.
Turkey has expressed interest in joining an international stabilisation force (ISF) to support Israel’s withdrawal and help maintain calm. Israel, however, opposes Turkish involvement.
Meshaal said Hamas is not against international peacekeepers, comparing them to UNIFIL in Lebanon, even while criticising the UN Security Council’s endorsement of Trump’s plan. He expressed confidence that such a force could prevent “any escalation from Gaza toward Israel”.
He also outlined his vision for Gaza’s governance, saying Hamas is ready to hand administrative control to technocrats, emphasizing: “We want Palestinians to govern themselves and choose their own leadership.”
He criticised the US proposal for a “board of peace” to supervise Gaza’s administration, calling it risky and a form of “guardianship” over the territory.
Meshaal said mediation efforts in Egypt had brought together multiple Palestinian factions, selecting an eight-member body to represent Gaza, but said the process was being obstructed by Israel.
Meshaal also commented on the global pro-Palestine movement, saying Israel’s conduct during the war has turned it into “an outcast state” with a severely damaged reputation.
“The Palestinian cause today stands at an unprecedented level of visibility,” he said, noting its renewed prominence on the regional and international stage.
“Who previously dared to criticise Israel? Now Netanyahu and Israeli officials are before the International Criminal Court. Israel is ostracized because it represents a criminal entity that committed a holocaust and genocide,” he said.
In November 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, two security cabinet members, and two Hamas leaders later killed by Israel.
“Israel once flaunted itself as a democracy and a champion of Western values,” Meshaal added. “Today, its true face has been exposed.”
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