The headline focuses on the rejection, but the real story is the tactical shift. Hamas is not issuing a final "no" on disarmament but is instead making it the last step in a sequence, contingent on prior Israeli actions. This move stalls negotiations and shifts the immediate pressure from Hamas's arsenal to Israel's own compliance. The critical signals to watch now will come from Tel Aviv, not Gaza.
A Palestinian official has indicated that Hamas will not accept a current plan for its disarmament, a development that effectively stalls negotiations. This is not a definitive rejection of disarmament itself, but rather a tactical re-sequencing of the process. Hamas is framing the laying down of arms as the final step in any potential agreement, contingent on other conditions being met first, rather than as a precondition for talks.
According to the official, the group will not proceed until Israel fully complies with its own commitments. This maneuver shifts the immediate diplomatic pressure from Hamas's arsenal to Israel's actions. The critical signal to watch now is not whether Hamas will disarm, but how Tel Aviv responds to this demand for prior compliance, as this will determine the viability of any future dialogue.
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