Hamas Rejects Gaza Disarmament Plan Amid Ceasefire Deadlock
Hamas has rejected the disarmament plan proposed as part of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, according to a senior Palestinian official.
The official accused the US-led peace envoy of bias towards Israel and said Hamas would not engage in talks on disarmament until Israel fully implements the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.
The first phase, agreed in October, included the exchange of hostages, partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and halted active conflict.
Israel has stated it will not proceed with the second phase without progress on Hamas's disarmament.
The deadlock has persisted since January when the US Middle East envoy announced the start of the second phase, which aims for Gaza's demilitarisation and a full Israeli withdrawal.
Hamas's rejection complicates efforts to move towards a permanent peace agreement.
The disarmament plan was detailed last month by the US envoy, linking the decommissioning of Palestinian armed groups' weapons to the start of reconstruction in Gaza following extensive military campaigns.
The conflict was triggered by a Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023, resulting in significant casualties and hostages.
Since the ceasefire began in October 2025, over 700 deaths have been reported in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
