Hamas: We Will Not Leave Gaza and Will Not Lay Down our Arms

After Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that any future agreement on Gaza must include the dismantling of Hamas’s military infrastructure and prevent the Palestinian Authority from gaining control of the Strip, Hamas reiterated its rejection of these conditions.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem stated on Tuesday evening that Israel’s demand for Hamas to be removed from the Gaza Strip is merely psychological warfare.

He reaffirmed the terror group’s refusal to leave the Strip or disarm as part of any agreement, calling Israel’s condition “ridiculous psychological warfare” and declaring that the disarmament or departure of the “resistance” from Gaza is unacceptable.

At the same time, Qassem noted that Hamas is politically and operationally prepared to implement the provisions of the second and third stages of the agreement. Naturally, since the second phase, never mind the third, is yet to even be negotiated, all this means is that Hamas is ready to carry out Hamas’s notion of what should come next.

HOSTAGE DEAL ACCELERATED

Qassem also confirmed that Hamas agreed to double the number of Israeli hostages to be released on Saturday, as well as release three or four dead hostages on Thursday, in response to the mediators’ request. This move was seen as a demonstration of Hamas’s commitment to implementing the agreement, as reported by the Associated Press. It also likely means that Hamas is receiving something from the Netanyahu government in return, possibly the release of major terrorist murderers from Israeli prisons.

Hamas’s announcement followed Netanyahu’s statement during a small cabinet meeting that Israel’s conditions for the second phase of the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza include disarming Hamas, ensuring no Hamas presence in Gaza, and preventing the Palestinian Authority from taking control of the Strip the day after the war.

Negotiations for the second phase are scheduled to begin on March 2.

Hamas asserts that the second phase of the agreement, originally scheduled to begin on January 19, is meant to involve the release of all Israeli hostages and the end of the war in Gaza. According to Hamas, the third and final phase should focus on reconstruction and the discussion of Gaza’s future governance.

Additionally, Hamas announced on Tuesday that it is prepared to relinquish control over the Strip, which is estimated to require more than $53 billion for reconstruction.