Hamas official says disarmament depends on Israel's commitment to ceasefire

Palestinian factions would not give up their weapons unless Israel fully adheres to the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi said Thursday.

Mardawi said in a press conference that "any progress on the weapons issue is contingent upon the occupation's withdrawal and its commitment to the signed agreements."

He added that the issue of the factions' weapons is linked to the political goals of the Palestinian people, reaffirming his movement's commitment to the ceasefire, which came into effect on October 10, 2025.

Mardawi noted that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state would place weapons in the hands of a legitimate authority within a clear political framework that fulfills the aspirations of the Palestinian people.

He added that mutual commitment to agreements and their implementation would pave the way for a comprehensive political process leading to lasting and stable solutions.

The latest Hamas-Israel ceasefire initially focused on prisoner exchanges and humanitarian aid to Gaza. A proposed second phase of the peace plan calls for a full Israeli military withdrawal, the disarmament of Hamas and the start of reconstruction in the enclave under a transitional governing authority.