Hamas Signals Willingness to Surrender Weapons If Occupation Ends

A senior Hamas official, Mousa Abu Marzouk, stated in a Friday interview with Al Jazeera that the group is prepared to give up “any kind of weapons” under specific conditions. He emphasized that the relinquishment of arms would be contingent on an end to the occupation and full Palestinian self-determination. “We don’t need the weapons if there is no occupation,” Marzouk said, signaling a potential shift in Hamas’ stance amid ongoing negotiations surrounding the Gaza conflict.

Hamas’ Conditional Position on Arms
Marzouk’s statement highlights a conditional approach by Hamas regarding disarmament. Rather than an outright commitment to surrender weapons, the group has tied the decision to broader political objectives:

1. End of Occupation: Hamas emphasizes that any disarmament is contingent upon the cessation of perceived occupation and foreign military influence in Palestinian territories.
2. Palestinian Self-Governance: The group seeks assurance that Palestinians can exercise autonomous control over their governance and security without external interference.

By framing its willingness to disarm within these conditions, Hamas communicates that any peace or cease-fire agreement must address underlying political and territorial concerns, not just immediate security arrangements.

Implications for Peace Negotiations
This position carries significant implications for ongoing peace talks. Previous proposals, including former President Trump’s cease-fire plan, have included calls for Hamas to relinquish arms as part of broader negotiations with Israel.

Marzouk’s statement clarifies that Hamas views disarmament as conditional, meaning successful agreements will require:

• Guarantees for Palestinian Autonomy: Any cease-fire or peace plan must respect the political and administrative rights of Palestinians in Gaza and potentially the West Bank.
• Security Assurances: Israel and other stakeholders would need to provide assurances that Palestinians will not face ongoing military threats post-disarmament.

The conditional stance indicates that achieving sustainable peace will involve not only immediate security measures but also long-term political solutions.

Context of the Statement
The interview took place amid international efforts to resolve the ongoing Gaza conflict, including proposals for hostage release, prisoner exchanges, and cease-fire agreements. Marzouk’s remarks follow Hamas’ partial acceptance of former President Trump’s peace plan, which seeks to address both humanitarian and political dimensions of the conflict.

By publicly linking weapon surrender to the broader political context, Hamas signals that any lasting resolution must go beyond tactical cease-fire arrangements and address root causes of the conflict.

International and Regional Reactions
While Marzouk’s statement is specific to Hamas’ position, it will likely influence regional and international mediators, including Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. These actors play critical roles in facilitating dialogue and ensuring that agreements are enforceable.

Regional partners may now need to incorporate discussions of political autonomy and security guarantees into cease-fire negotiations, balancing Israel’s security concerns with Palestinian aspirations for self-determination.

Strategic Messaging
Hamas’ conditional willingness to disarm can also be seen as a strategic message:

• Domestic Audience: It reassures Palestinian supporters that any peace agreement will not compromise their political and territorial rights.
• International Audience: It communicates to mediators and Israel that tangible progress, such as disarmament, depends on addressing broader political issues, signaling that piecemeal agreements may not be sustainable.

This approach allows Hamas to engage in negotiations without appearing to make unilateral concessions, maintaining leverage while participating in international diplomacy.

Challenges and Considerations
Despite the potential for progress, challenges remain:

1. Verification and Compliance: Ensuring Hamas’ disarmament, if agreed upon, is verified and permanent.
2. Mutual Trust: Both sides must trust that commitments regarding territory, governance, and security will be honored.
3. Domestic Politics: Israel and Hamas face internal political pressures that could complicate implementation of any agreement tied to weapon surrender.

Successful negotiation will require careful diplomacy, monitoring mechanisms, and international guarantees to ensure that conditional disarmament is enforceable and contributes to lasting peace.

Conclusion
Mousa Abu Marzouk’s remarks signal Hamas’ conditional willingness to surrender weapons, contingent upon the end of occupation and full Palestinian self-governance. This position emphasizes that sustainable peace in Gaza requires addressing fundamental political and territorial concerns alongside immediate security measures. International and regional mediators must account for these conditions when facilitating negotiations, ensuring that agreements are both practical and enduring.