DOHA, October 9. /TASS/. The Palestinian movement Hamas is ready to discuss the issue of disarmament only within the framework of consultations with other Palestinian forces with the goal of concluding an agreement that will define a mechanism for opposing the Israeli occupation, member of Hamas’s Political Bureau Osama Hamdan in an interview with Al Araby television.
"It will be easier if this issue is left to the Palestinians, but it will become more difficult if Israel decides to interfere in the internal affairs of the Palestinians. Israel understands perfectly well that the problem is not about weapons or any particular movement, but about the occupation and the need to end it," Hamdan said, when asked about Hamas's position on the demand for laying down arms.
"We need an inter-Palestinian agreement on a national project, a project for the liberation [of the territories], which will define a set of tools and mechanisms. If such an agreement is reached, mutual understanding will be reached. If we leave this issue to the Palestinians, we will take the easy path," he continued, speaking about the possibility of disarming the group.
While commenting on the implementation of US President Donald Trump's plan to deploy international forces in the Gaza Strip, Hamdan emphasized that Hamas is against external interference in the governance of the enclave. "The governance of the Gaza Strip is a national issue, and we will not allow foreign meddling," he warned.
"Gaza must be governed by an administration or body composed of independent Palestinians," the Hamas representative added. Palestinian groups have reportedly submitted a list of 40 people, some of whom could be selected to join the future administration of the Strip. Earlier, Trump announced that representatives of Israel and Hamas had signed agreements on the first phase of the peace plan following talks in Egypt. He stated that this phase entails the release of all hostages as soon as possible and the withdrawal of Israeli troops to an agreed-upon line inside the Gaza Strip. Trump believes that the first steps had been taken toward a lasting, durable, and lasting peace.
On September 29, the White House released Trump's Gaza conflict resolution plan, which calls for the imposition of temporary external governance in the Palestinian enclave, a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the release of the hostages within 72 hours.