Hamas says it’s open to disarming – but only for establishment of Palestinian state

Senior Hamas leader in exile softens the terror group’s response to demands it disarm, saying Hamas is prepared to discuss “freezing or storing” its arsenal – but only as part of a broader process to establish a Palestinian state.

By World Israel News Staff

The Hamas terror organization signaled over the weekend a softening of its position on the issue of disarming, with a senior member of the group saying Hamas is willing to engage in talks regarding the possible “freezing or storing” of its arsenal, just days after other Hamas leaders openly rejected calls to demilitarize.

On Sunday, Hamas politburo member Basem Naim spoke with The Associated Press in Doha, Qatar, striking a conciliatory tone, emphasizing the need to avoid “further escalations,” and offering to “talk about” shelving the group’s arsenal.

“We are open to have a comprehensive approach in order to avoid further escalations or in order to avoid any further clashes or explosions,” Naim said.

“This time has to be used seriously and in a comprehensive way,” Naim continued, claiming that Hamas is “very open-minded” about the future of its weaponry.

When asked whether the terror group will accept the second phase of the Trump administration’s 20-point peace plan, requiring Hamas to disarm and the Gaza Strip be fully demilitarized, Naim said Hamas was willing to “talk about” various options for its arsenal.

“We can talk about freezing or storing or laying down, with the Palestinian guarantees, not to use it at all during this ceasefire time or truce.”

However, Naim added that before Hamas acts, the details of the second phase of the plan would have to be clarified.

“The plan is in need of a lot of clarifications,” Naim said.

Furthermore, Naim conditioned Hamas’ “storing” its arsenal on guarantees that the deal would include a concrete pathway to Palestinian statehood.

He also outright rejected the presence of United Nations peacekeepers inside the Gaza Strip – a key provision of the Trump plan.

“We are welcoming a UN force to be near the borders, supervising the ceasefire agreement, reporting about violations, preventing any kind of escalations.”

“But we don’t accept that these forces have any kind of mandates authorizing them to do or to be implemented inside the Palestinian territories.”

Naim defended the Oct. 7 invasion of Israel and subsequent atrocities, including rape and mass murder, calling it an “act of defense.”