2 weeks ago
A commander of an armed militia operating in southern Gaza has expressed deep skepticism regarding the second phase of a proposed ceasefire, stating that Hamas is highly unlikely to agree to disarm.
Hussam al-Astal, who leads the Israeli-backed group known as the Strike Force Against Terror, told reporters that the proposed deal is unlikely to be realized. He explained that Hamas views relinquishing its weapons as equivalent to surrendering its control over the Gaza Strip.
Al-Astal emphasized that the militant group will not willingly disarm or agree to conditions that threaten its authority in the region. "I don’t think the agreement will go through," he stated, while noting his support for a ceasefire agreement that does not include Hamas.
Al-Astal's militia, which is active in the Khan Younis area, reportedly receives military and logistical support from Israel. Over the past year, the group has been involved in sporadic clashes with Hamas, continuing to fight despite the existence of a broader ceasefire framework.
Why It Matters
Hamas has maintained administrative and military control over the Gaza Strip since 2007, following a brief civil conflict with the rival Palestinian faction Fatah. Throughout multiple rounds of international mediation and reconciliation talks over the years, Hamas has consistently rejected demands to disarm its military wing, viewing its arsenal as essential to its political survival and its self-declared resistance against Israel. Consequently, the insistence on disarmament by Israel and international negotiators remains one of the most significant and historically intractable obstacles to achieving a permanent peace agreement in the region.
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