A senior Hamas official has said that the group will not lay down arms, nor will it allow the deployment of an international peacekeeping force in the Gaza Strip.
The condition to give up arms and accept foreign troop deployment in Gaza was part of the peace plan floated by the United States and its allies, who have expressed support for seeking a lasting solution to the Gaza crisis.
Washington has constantly called for the disarmament of Hamas and the deployment of an international force in Gaza.
Osama Hamdan, former senior representative of Hamas in Lebanon and Tehran, said Hamas will not lay down its weapons as long as Israel’s occupation continues, adding that resistance is a right guaranteed by international law.
Also Read: Hamas discusses phase two of Gaza ceasefire with Turkish official
However, Hamdan said Hamas would agree to foreign troops being dispatched along Palestine’s border with Israel to help maintain the ceasefire, but added that any activity related to governing Gaza was unacceptable.
The United States wants to make it official through the United Nations Security Council; once finalised, Hamas and Israel would be obliged to cooperate.
Besides the five permanent members, there are 10 non-permanent members in the UNSC, all of whom have expressed support for conditional troop deployment.
US President Donald Trump said that a US-coordinated international stabilisation force destined for Gaza will be on the ground soon, while also touting the current ceasefire.
Despite a series of ceasefire violations by Israel, Trump said that “peace in Gaza” is going well and that the ceasefire is holding up. The US President also Trump said they are working closely with regional countries and allies.
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