Hamas Criticizes Egyptian Ceasefire Proposal Over Disarmament Condition
Sami Abu Zuhri affirms that resistance arms are non-negotiable, rejecting any attempt to link a ceasefire to surrender or disarmament.
Palestine, PURE WILAYAH - A senior Hamas official, Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri, told Al Jazeera Arabic that Hamas has received a new ceasefire proposal mediated by Egypt, but strongly rejected a key condition that calls for the disarmament of the Palestinian resistance.
According to Abu Zuhri, the proposal, which includes a 45-day ceasefire and the entry of food and shelter materials into Gaza, was unexpectedly accompanied by an explicit requirement for Hamas to lay down its weapons.
“Our negotiating delegation was surprised that the proposal Egypt conveyed included an explicit text regarding the disarmament of the resistance,” he stated.
He emphasized that Egypt informed Hamas there would be no agreement to halt the war without negotiations around disarming the resistance.
However, Abu Zuhri asserted that such a demand is non-negotiable. “The demand to disarm the resistance is not up for discussion and will never happen,” he said firmly.
No Surrender, No White Flag
Abu Zuhri added that the existence of resistance weapons is intrinsically tied to the continued Israeli occupation, stating, “They exist to protect our people and our national rights.”
He went on to criticize Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that Netanyahu is placing impossible conditions meant to sabotage any potential ceasefire.
“What Netanyahu is demanding is a surrender agreement. Surrender is not an option for the Hamas movement, and we will not accept breaking the will of our people,” he declared. “Hamas will not surrender, will not raise the white flag, and will use all pressure cards against the occupation.”
Exchange of Captives in Return for War's End
Abu Zuhri also clarified Hamas’s position regarding the exchange of captives. “We are ready to release all the living and dead captives at once in exchange for ending the war and full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip,” he said.
He accused the Israeli government of submitting the proposal through Egyptian mediation. “The proposal presented to us is an Israeli one and includes, for the first time, the disarmament of the resistance as a condition for starting the second phase of negotiations,” he revealed.
Criticism of U.S. and Netanyahu’s Alliance with Trump
In his remarks, Abu Zuhri also criticized U.S. involvement and its alliance with Netanyahu. “Netanyahu is acting in his own political interest, and Trump is his partner in killing the people of Gaza,” he said. He confirmed that there is currently no direct communication between Hamas and the U.S. administration.
Despite the dire situation, Hamas remains open to all proposals that could alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people—so long as the principles of resistance and national rights are respected. (PW)
Source: Palinfo