Hamas disarmment Gaza was firmly rejected on Sunday by senior Hamas figure Khaled Meshal, who said the movement would not surrender its weapons or accept foreign governance as long as Israeli occupation continues.
Speaking in Doha, Meshal said attempts to criminalize armed resistance or impose external control over Gaza were unacceptable to Palestinians.
His comments came as a US-brokered ceasefire enters its second phase, which includes proposals for demilitarisation of Gaza and new governance arrangements backed by Washington and Israel.
Meshal Says Resistance Linked to Ongoing Occupation
Meshal said that disarmament discussions ignore what he described as the root cause of the conflict, namely Israel’s continued military presence and control over Palestinian territories.
“As long as there is occupation, there is resistance,” Meshal told a conference in the Qatari capital, adding that resistance is a right of people living under occupation.
Hamas, which governs Gaza, launched a cross-border attack into Israel on October 7, 2023, an operation that triggered the current war. Israel responded with a large-scale military campaign that devastated much of the Gaza Strip.
Ceasefire Phase Includes Demilitarisation Provisions
The second phase of the US-mediated ceasefire foresees the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the demilitarisation of the territory, including Hamas disarmment Gaza.
Israeli officials claim Hamas retains about:
• 20,000 fighters
• Around 60,000 assault rifles
Hamas has repeatedly said that surrendering weapons is a red line, though it has signaled it could consider transferring arms to a future Palestinian national authority under agreed conditions.
Concerns Over Foreign Governance Structures
Meshal also criticised emerging international mechanisms linked to post-war governance in Gaza, warning against what he called foreign tutelage.
A Palestinian technocratic committee has been formed to manage daily administration in Gaza, operating under the so-called Board of Peace, an initiative announced by US President Donald Trump.
H3: Board of Peace and Executive Panel
The Board of Peace was unveiled last month at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Its initial mandate focused on overseeing the Gaza truce and reconstruction, but it has since expanded.
Critics have raised concerns that the board could evolve into an alternative to existing international frameworks such as the United Nations.
Alongside it, Washington created a Gaza Executive Board that advises the Palestinian committee. Its members include:
• US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner
• Former UK prime minister Tony Blair
H4: Hamas Rejects External Control
Meshal said Hamas would not accept any form of foreign rule over Palestinian territory.
“Palestinians are to govern Palestinians,” he said, adding that Gaza belongs to its people and to Palestine as a whole.
He urged international actors to adopt what he described as a balanced approach that allows reconstruction and humanitarian aid for Gaza’s estimated 2.2 million residents without imposing external authority.
Conclusion:
Meshal’s remarks underline Hamas’s continued rejection of Hamas disarmment Gaza proposals tied to ceasefire arrangements, while highlighting growing disagreements over post-war governance and international involvement. With negotiations ongoing, the future political and security framework for Gaza remains uncertain.
