Despite Gaza Framework Agreement, Hamas Continues Its Familiar Tactics

Despite the announcement of a framework agreement in Gaza, Hamas continues to raise obstacles and add conditions to the implementation of the most important clause in the deal. Senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad said the agreement speaks of 'storing' weapons, not handing them over. Hamas conditions the handover of weapons on a halt to Israeli strikes and IDF withdrawal, and demands the dismantling of rival militias. A local militia leader says he is not afraid of abandonment. The article casts doubt on the implementation of the framework in light of previous agreements that were not implemented.

Despite the announcement of a framework agreement in the Gaza Strip, Hamas continues to raise obstacles to its implementation. The organization, which is supposed to disarm, has begun adding conditions to the realization of the most important clause in the agreement. Senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad said in an interview with Al-Arabiya that the agreement speaks of 'storing' weapons with the Palestinian National Committee, not handing them over. Hamas conditions the handover of weapons on a halt to Israeli strikes and the withdrawal of the IDF from the Strip, and demands the dismantling of rival militias that were supported by Israel. The head of the militia 'Free Homeland Forces', Shuki Abu Nuseira, said he is not afraid of abandonment. The article notes that in the past year many agreements were signed in the Middle East that were not implemented on the ground, so it is still unclear whether the framework will pass the test of reality.