Exclusive: Hamas aims to keep grip on Gaza security and can't commit to disarm, senior official says

Reuters.com ^ | October 18, 202512:54 AM CDT | Ahmed Jadallah and Andrew Mills

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Summary

• Senior Hamas official says group will be present on the ground
• Mohammed Nazzal asks 'to whom will the weapons be handed over'?
• Hamas wants truce of at least three to five years, Nazzal says
• Israel says Hamas must be disarmed, adhere to Trump plan

DOHA, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Hamas intends to maintain security control in Gaza during an interim period, a senior Hamas official told Reuters, adding he could not commit to the group disarming - positions that reflect the difficulties facing U.S. plans to secure an end to the war.

Hamas politburo member Mohammed Nazzal also said the group was ready for a ceasefire of up to five years to rebuild devastated Gaza, with guarantees for what happens afterwards depending on Palestinians being given "horizons and hope" for statehood.

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Speaking to Reuters in an interview from Doha, where Hamas politicians have long resided, Nazzal defended the group's crackdown in Gaza, where it carried out public executions on Monday. There were always "exceptional measures" during war and those executed were criminals guilty of killing, he said.

PRESSURE TO DISARM

While Hamas has broadly expressed these views before, the timing of Nazzal's comments demonstrates the major obstacles obstructing efforts to cement a full end to the war in Gaza, days after the first phase of the ceasefire was agreed.

They point to big gaps between Hamas' positions and U.S. President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza, ahead of negotiations expected to address Hamas' weapons and how Gaza is governed.

Asked for comment on Nazzal's remarks, the Israeli prime minister's office said Israel was committed to the ceasefire agreement and continued to uphold and fulfil its side of the...

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

Nothing in this is surprising. What is surprising is that the West has believed the lie about fundamental Islam. Their strategy was and is fight to win, or make a temporary truce until strength enough returns to again fight to win.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Begin to hunt them down and kill them. Do not stop until every one of them hands over their weapons. Do what Genghis Khan did and grab their spokesman and pour molten silver into his eye sockets and ears and make everyone in Gaza watch it through some kind of media. Do NOT tell me people can not be broken. Yes they can.

[Steely Tom]

It all depends on what the meaning of “is” is.

Just replace “is” with any other word you like.

[43north]

This will not end well - for them.

[Singermom]

Hamas is 1 of 7 TRIBES in Gaza. They all want death. They are unified in killing Jews but if THAT is not an option they will kill eachother.

[TangoLimaSierra]

“Now that the hostages are free, we were kinda hoping you’d say that.” - IDF

[Singermom]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkwdC0iU_3g&t=30s

Palestinians talking abt how killing Jews IS GOOD.

[TangoLimaSierra]

What is surprising is that the West has believed the lie about fundamental Islam.

You mean the guys who have a 100 times the info we do?
I doubt they were surprised. The main thing is the hostages are out.
Act II.

[Singermom]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceFPGiIBAXM

Americans In STATE OF SHOCK After Seeing Footage Of What Palestinians Really Think Of Israel!

[Governor Dinwiddie]

You pretty much nailed it completely. Hamas has no interest in peace or disarming. I say kill them all, every last one.

[faithhopecharity]

of course

everybody could see this a month ago

Hamas and its Fakestinian Occupation of the gaza district must be removed, period. not appeased, not further subsidized, not negotiated with. removed. period.

[mass55th]

It can be done the easy way, or the hard way, but in the end, it will get done.

[lurk]

Three to five years. Enough time for the Pali teens to mature.

[Danie_2023]

“”The main thing is the hostages are out.
Act II.””

***

No holds barred now.

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

--- "Hamas has no interest in peace or disarming. I say kill them all, every last one."

What seems wise is to take the fundamental Muslims at their word. Dar al Islam means they rule, and Dar al Harb means they scheme and fight until they rule. There are no 'permanent' peace deals in historical Islam. merely truces to re-arm.

[ridesthemiles]

WON’T COMMIT

[woodpusher]

The signed agreement entered into by the parties:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/full-text-of-oct-9-israel-hamas-deal-on-trumps-plan-for-comprehensive-end-to-gaza-war/

1. President Trump announces the end to the war in the Gaza Strip, and that the parties have agreed to implement the necessary steps to that end.

2. The war will immediately end upon the approval of the Israeli government. All military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment and targeting operations, will be suspended. During the 72-hour period, aerial surveillance will be suspended over the areas from which IDF forces have withdrawn.

3. Immediate commencement of full entry of humanitarian aid and relief as determined in the Proposal, and at a minimum in consistence with the 19 January 2025 agreement regarding humanitarian aid. Humanitarian aid and relief implementation steps are attached herewith.

4. The IDF will withdraw to lines agreed upon as per map X attached herewith, and this will be completed after President Trump’s announcement and within 24 hours of Israeli government approval. The IDF will not return to areas that have been withdrawn from, as long as Hamas fully implements the agreement.

5. Within 72 hours of the withdrawal of Israeli forces, all Israeli hostages, living and deceased, held in Gaza will be released (list attached).

a. As soon as the IDF completes the withdrawal, Hamas will commence investigating the status of the hostages and collect all information pertaining to them. Hamas will provide feedback and on its findings through the information-sharing mechanism under 5.e below. Israel will provide information on the Palestinian prisoners and detainees from the Gaza Strip held in Israel.

b. Within the 72 hours, Hamas will release all living hostages including those held by Palestinian factions in Gaza.

c. Within the 72 hours, Hamas will release the remains of the deceased hostages in its possession and those in the possession of the Palestinian factions in Gaza.

d. Hamas will share, within the 72 hours, all the information it obtained relating to any remaining deceased hostages through the information-sharing mechanism in paragraph (e) below. Israel will provide information on the remains of the deceased Gazans held by Israel.

e. Establishment of an information-sharing mechanism between the two sides through the mediators and the ICRC, to exchange information and intelligence on any remaining deceased hostages that were not retrieved within the 72 hours or remains of Gazans held by Israel. The mechanism shall ensure that the remains of all the hostages are fully and safely exhumed and released. Hamas shall exert maximum effort to ensure the fulfilment of these commitments as soon as possible.

f. As Hamas releases all the hostages, Israeli will release in parallel the corresponding number of Palestinian prisoners as per the attached lists.

g. The exchange of hostages and prisoners will be done according to the mechanism agreed upon through the mediators and through the ICRC without any public ceremonies or media coverage.

6. A task force will be formed of representatives from the United States, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey and other countries to be agreed upon by the parties, to follow-up on the implementation with the two sides and coordinate with them.

[MikelTackNailer]

Just wondering how much worth is in the paper that proposal is printed on.