Hamas issues new demands in Gaza peace talks

Hamas continues to evade disarmament requirements while piling on new demands of Israel in talks with Egyptian mediators.

By World Israel News Staff

Efforts to reach a postwar arrangement in Gaza are facing renewed obstacles, with Hamas refusing to discuss disarmament while pressing for broader Israeli concessions, according to a report by the Saudi-owned Asharq Al-Awsat outlet.

Both the United States and Israel have insisted that any lasting settlement must include Hamas giving up its entire arsenal, a basic condition included in the Gaza peace plan which served as the basis for the October 2025 ceasefire agreement.

However, Hamas is demanding a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and changes to the terms of the ceasefire before engaging on the issue of disarmament.

The impasse has emerged in talks mediated through Cairo and other regional channels.

Reuters reported on April 2 that Hamas told mediators it would not discuss surrendering its arms unless it first received guarantees that Israel would fully withdraw from Gaza under the U.S.-backed “Board of Peace” framework.

The group also demanded an end to what it called Israeli ceasefire violations and sought clarification on areas still under Israeli control.

That stance appeared to harden further in subsequent days.

Reuters reported on April 5 that Hamas again rejected disarmament absent firm assurances of a total Israeli exit from Gaza, while the terror group described calls to relinquish weapons as unacceptable.

Sources cited by Asharq Al-Awsat said Hamas has also added new demands in the negotiations, complicating efforts to turn the current ceasefire into a more durable arrangement.

A delegation of Hamas officials, led by Khalil al-Hayya, arrived in Cairo on Saturday for talks with Egyptian mediators, with plans to continue the talks through Sunday.

According to the Asharq Al-Awsat report, Hamas rejected American pressure to disarm as a condition for the implementation of the second phase of the Gaza deal, telling Egyptian mediators that discussions regarding disarmament could only come as part of “a comprehensive political framework with international and regional guarantees.”

Among other things, Hamas used the talks on Saturday to demand that all crossings into and out of the Gaza Strip be opened immediately, with the number of people allowed to enter via Rafah raised to 200 per day.

Currently, the Rafah crossing is available to limited pedestrian traffic, with the number of people entering limited to 50 per day.

Hamas has also demanded that the number of aid trucks entering Gaza be increased to 600 per day and that the list of goods allowed in be expanded.

Furthermore, Hamas also said Saturday that talks on disarmament are contingent on “halting all Israeli ceasefire violations, including the dismantling of military positions established west of the yellow line, alongside a halt to ongoing incursion operations.”