[News] Hamas: No steps on weapons control before Israeli withdrawal from Gaza

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Hamas: No steps on weapons control before Israeli withdrawal from Gaza

Friday 31-July-2026
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<https://english.palinfo.com/news/2026/07/31/367573/#>
<https://english.palinfo.com/news/2026/07/31/367573/#>

GAZA, (PIC)

Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas’s negotiating delegation, said the Movement
will not implement any measures related to placing weapons under
centralized control or storing them before Israeli forces withdraw from the
Gaza Strip.

In remarks to Al Jazeera, Hamad stressed that any commitment by Hamas
remains contingent on Israel fulfilling its obligations under the agreement.

He described the negotiations in Cairo as “difficult and tough,” saying the
Hamas delegation worked to secure the best possible outcome while remaining
committed to the Movement’s national objectives and the rights of the
Palestinian people.

Hamad said the issue of weapons is linked to other key files, primarily the
Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and reconstruction efforts. He added that
Israel will not be involved in any process concerning the control or
storage of weapons, saying the task will instead be handled by a
Palestinian national committee.

He also praised the mediation efforts of Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye,
thanking the three countries for their role in reaching the agreement.

A senior Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the
agreement stipulates that during the transitional period, employees whose
services are terminated or who are referred to retirement will receive
their full legal entitlements in accordance with Palestinian law.

The official added that the Gaza Administration Committee will conduct a
comprehensive review of the territory’s financial and administrative
affairs, work to protect and recover public assets with international
support, and assess legitimate obligations to suppliers and contractors,
with payments capped at $400 million.

He said those measures will be implemented gradually over three years
according to priorities set by the committee.

The latest round of meetings began last Wednesday in Egypt’s New Alamein
City, where Hamas’s negotiating delegation met with Egyptian officials led
by General Intelligence Service Director Hassan Rashad, with mediators from
Qatar and Türkiye also participating. The talks focused on moving forward
with the implementation of the second phase of the agreement.

The meetings follow earlier discussions that began in Cairo on June 6,
involving Palestinian factions and mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye
to examine mechanisms for advancing to the agreement’s second phase and
resolving outstanding issues.
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