Hamas says Palestinians alone must decide fate of weapons

A senior representative of Hamas said decisions over the collection and storage of heavy weapons in the Gaza Strip should rest solely with Palestinians, outlining the group’s position on disarmament under a proposed ceasefire arrangement with Israel.

Speaking to Russian state media, Hamas representative in Iran Khaled al-Qaddoumi said the issue would be addressed only after key elements of a ceasefire agreement are implemented.

“As for heavy weapons, this issue is contingent on the implementation of the main provisions of the ceasefire agreement: the humanitarian phase, the withdrawal of the Israeli army, the delivery of materials for reconstruction and the start of work of a national committee that will carry out the political and administrative governance of the Gaza Strip, assume responsibility for reconstruction, and then prepare for elections. After this, the issue of collecting and storing weapons will be transferred to the Palestinian side. This is a national issue, and no one other than Palestinians, whoever they may be, has the right to interfere in it,” he said.

Al-Qaddoumi added that the stance reflects a broader Palestinian consensus rather than the position of a single faction.

“This position is not only the position of Hamas and not only of one faction, but rather a pan-Palestinian consensus,” he said.

The remarks come after Donald Trump said on July 30 that an agreement had been reached providing for the complete disarmament of the movement’s armed formations, highlighting potential differences over how such provisions would be implemented.

By Tamilla Hasanova