Hamas rejects disarmament ahead of Cairo truce talks

Hamas rejected disarmament ahead of follow-up Gaza ceasefire talks in Cairo, Egypt, this weekend. Hamas political bureau member Husam Badran said the fate of the group’s weapons would be decided only through national discussions with other Palestinian factions. He raised the possibility that weapons would no longer be visible on the streets of Gaza if the National Committee for Gaza Administration took over, but stressed that would not mean surrendering arms. Hamas said the Cairo meeting also discussed completing the first phase of the ceasefire, reopening crossings, the entry of humanitarian aid and the transition to the second phase. Spokesman Hazem Qassem said a senior delegation led by Khalil al-Hayya had arrived in Cairo. The talks remain deadlocked on two main issues: Hamas disarmament and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.