‘We believe Hamas will not disarm,’ Israeli-backed militia figure in Gaza tells ‘Post’

A Palestinian source affiliated with Israeli-backed militias in Gaza told The Jerusalem Post that Hamas will not disarm despite the Board of Peace deal, calling the agreement 'empty talk'. The source said Hamas fears revenge from Gazans it oppressed and needs weapons to survive. Ghazi Hamad of Hamas's Political Bureau said Hamas agreed to store weapons with the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), but only if Israel meets its commitments. The deal requires dissolving Israeli-backed militias, which a Gaza resident says sends a troubling message and could deter future cooperation with Israel.

A Palestinian source affiliated with Israeli-backed militias in Gaza told The Jerusalem Post that Hamas will not disarm despite the Board of Peace deal, calling the agreement 'empty talk'. The source argued that for Hamas, handing over weapons would be suicidal, as 'if there are no weapons, there is no Hamas'. He said Gazans who suffered under Hamas are waiting for revenge, and Hamas needs weapons to protect itself. Ghazi Hamad, a Hamas Political Bureau member, told Arab media that Hamas agreed to store weapons with the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), but stressed that Israel must meet its commitments, including withdrawal. The agreement requires collecting heavy weapons and regulating individual arms, and also calls for dissolving Israeli-backed militias. A Gaza resident expressed cautious optimism but warned that disbanding militias sends a troubling message, potentially deterring future cooperation with Israel. The militia source rejected this, citing Israel's past support for the South Lebanon Army as proof of its commitment.