Media: Hamas agrees to freeze weapons use, not surrender in ceasefire deal

Hamas has agreed to freeze the use of its weapons but will not surrender them as part of the newly implemented ceasefire deal brokered by the United States, according to Diaa Rashwan, chief of the Egyptian State Information Service.

Rashwan explained during an appearance on Al Arabiya on the night of October 8 that the weapons freeze aligns with a truce proposal Hamas had previously presented to Israel, which would last between five and ten years, Caliber.Az reports.

The agreement, which marks the first phase of a ceasefire plan in Gaza and includes a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas, officially went into effect on October 9 amid broad international approval.

He emphasised that “Hamas’ weapons will not be handed over to Israel or any non-Arab entity.” While the agreement does not specify who will oversee the weapons, it refers to an independent committee that could be Egyptian, Egyptian-Arab, or Egyptian-Arab-Palestinian.

According to US President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza deal, “there will be a process of demilitarisation of Gaza under the supervision of independent monitors, which will include placing weapons permanently beyond use through an agreed process of decommissioning, and supported by an internationally funded buy back and reintegration program all verified by the independent monitors.”

Rashwan also noted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had aimed to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities during the Gaza war but was unsuccessful. He added that Netanyahu now seeks “a theatrical scene” to showcase the disarmament through the current agreement after two years of conflict.

By Sabina Mammadli