Hamas has rejected the disarmament plan of a top figure in President Donald Trump's Gaza peace efforts, a senior Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations has stated. This decision indicates a significant blockade in progressing towards a peaceful resolution.
The official accused Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza on the US-led Board of Peace, of favoritism towards Israel. Mladenov had outlined a demilitarization framework intended to facilitate the second phase of the ceasefire deal reached between Hamas and Israel in October.
This Palestinian official indicated that Hamas has communicated to regional mediators that they will refrain from discussions about this phase unless Israel completely satisfies the terms of the agreement from the first phase.
Israel, for its part, has made clear that advancement hinges on Hamas's disarmament.
A Hamas delegation was scheduled to meet with Egypt's intelligence chief, reflecting ongoing negotiations amidst the current tensions.
The initial phase of the Trump administration’s peace plan successfully halted hostilities, led to the return of all Israeli captives and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. However, since the announcement by US envoy Steve Witkoff regarding the commencement of the second phase, progress has stalled due to a lack of consensus between Israel and Hamas.
Mladenov's recent proposal for Palestinian armed groups to decommission their weapons is linked to the commencement of reconstruction initiatives following extensive damage caused by Israel’s military offensive.
The escalation of violence began following the October 7, 2023, attack led by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals and the capture of 251 hostages. Since then, more than 72,330 fatalities have been reported in Gaza due to retaliatory Israeli operations, including 757 deaths since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, 2025.
A senior Hamas official pointedly remarked that discussions are contingent upon Mladenov delivering a clear timeline for Israel's compliance with previous commitments, along with assurances to prevent ongoing violations before any talk of further phases can commence.
The issue of disarmament is viewed as intertwined with the Palestinian quest for self-determination, exceeding mere temporary agreements.
The Hamas officials criticized Mladenov for aligning with Israeli perspectives, as the proposal does not include sufficient support for humanitarian and recovery efforts, thereby leaving reconstruction in limbo.
With Mladenov echoing sentiments about disarmament’s potential to break longstanding cycles of violence and foster meaningful changes for Gaza, the future of peace remains uncertain, particularly amid Netanyahu’s firm stance on disarming Hamas through either negotiation or conflict.
