Hamas conditions disarmament on Israel's official withdrawal, seeks clarification from Peace Commission

The Palestinian group Hamas stated Monday that it awaits a "clear and official" response from the Peace Commission and mediating countries regarding the terms of a disarmament agreement. Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to previously signed accords within the second phase of a ceasefire.

"The Hamas movement and Palestinian factions remain committed to what was agreed upon in the implementation of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, including the commitments of all parties, and we await a clear and official response from Mr. Nikolay Mladenov and the mediating brothers on what has been agreed upon," the organization communicated in a statement released Monday night.

Hamas's pronouncement follows statements by Bulgarian diplomat Nikolay Mladenov, executive director of the Peace Commission. Mladenov indicated via social media that a definitive withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would be contingent upon the complete surrender of Hamas's arsenal. "Contrary to inaccurate reports, it should be noted that the total withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) beyond the yellow line will only occur once disarmament is completed, as Hamas committed to the mediators. This applies to both light and heavy weapons, as well as tunnels," Mladenov stated.

Since the announcement of the plan, driven by U.S. President Donald Trump, conflicting positions have emerged regarding the operational sequence of the roadmap. The plan stipulates that Israel must adhere to the Sharm el-Sheikh Protocol, signed in October 2025, which includes an immediate suspension of armed incursions. This is presented as a prerequisite for the gradual dismantling of military infrastructure and ammunition depots belonging to factions in Gaza.

However, the process has been marred by an escalation of ground operations. Local medical sources attributed the deaths of at least 28 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to recent Israeli bombings. Hamas described these actions as a deliberate tactic to obstruct the pact's finalization. Concurrently, an Israeli government spokesperson, speaking anonymously to local media, stated that Israeli troops would not abandon strategic positions currently occupied in Gaza, estimated to cover 70% of the enclave, and would continue threat neutralization operations. Hamas, meanwhile, insists that the accepted text includes a binding obligation for the Israeli military to complete a full withdrawal in exchange for the handover of weapons.