Hamas has rejected the disarmament plan of a top figure in President Donald Trump's Gaza peace efforts, a senior Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations has told the BBC. He accused Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza on the US-led Board of Peace, of bias towards Israel. Last month, Mladenov outlined a framework for Gaza's demilitarisation as part of the second phase of the ceasefire deal agreed by Hamas and Israel in October. The official stated Hamas communicated to regional mediators that it would not engage in talks on the second phase until Israel fully implemented the terms of the first phase. In response, Israel declared that it would not advance without meaningful steps toward Hamas's disarmament.
A Hamas delegation was scheduled to meet Egypt's intelligence chief before departing for further discussions. The first phase of Trump's peace plan included halting the conflict, returning all Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. However, a deadlock has persisted since the announcement of phase two in mid-January, aimed at achieving a permanent ceasefire after demilitarisation and full Israeli withdrawal.
Mladenov's recent statements link arms decommissioning to reconstruction efforts in Gaza, a position Hamas and other factions have rejected. The backdrop of this conflict was escalated following an attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, claiming numerous lives and resulting in a humanitarian crisis. Hamas officials have demanded not only decommissioning of arms but a comprehensive solution ensuring the Palestinian right to self-determination while criticizing Mladenov’s alignment with Israeli interests.
The complexities and ongoing conflicts caution against potential violence as leaders struggle between calls for peace and acknowledgment of the deep-rooted issues underlying Palestinian grievances.
A Hamas delegation was scheduled to meet Egypt's intelligence chief before departing for further discussions. The first phase of Trump's peace plan included halting the conflict, returning all Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. However, a deadlock has persisted since the announcement of phase two in mid-January, aimed at achieving a permanent ceasefire after demilitarisation and full Israeli withdrawal.
Mladenov's recent statements link arms decommissioning to reconstruction efforts in Gaza, a position Hamas and other factions have rejected. The backdrop of this conflict was escalated following an attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, claiming numerous lives and resulting in a humanitarian crisis. Hamas officials have demanded not only decommissioning of arms but a comprehensive solution ensuring the Palestinian right to self-determination while criticizing Mladenov’s alignment with Israeli interests.
The complexities and ongoing conflicts caution against potential violence as leaders struggle between calls for peace and acknowledgment of the deep-rooted issues underlying Palestinian grievances.
