Hamas refuses to disarm

Negotiations between Peace Council Director General Nikolay Mladenov and a Hamas delegation led by Khalil al-Hayya have reached an impasse due to demands that Hamas disarm, KAN News reports

The terrorist organization stated that it would lay down its arms only after the full implementation of the first phase of the agreement, which requires Israel to withdraw its troops from the Gaza Strip, and provided there are guarantees that the plan will lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Israel has already informed Mladenov that it will not retreat beyond Gaza’s “yellow line” - the border separating areas that residents of the Strip are prohibited from approaching, and where a significant number of IDF troops are concentrated.

A source in Israel’s security services stated that Hamas is doing everything it can to evade fulfilling its obligations.

According to him, if the organization does not disarm, the IDF will resume combat operations in Gaza in the near future to complete its mission.

Photo: pubaffairsbruxelles.eu.