For the first time since the war began, Hamas has reportedly indicated a willingness in principle to give up its weapons as part of a broader agreement. However, officials involved in the negotiations say the terror group is attempting to attach conditions that could significantly weaken the proposal.

According to a report by Ynet, senior officials with the Peace Board said Hamas has agreed in principle to disarm but is demanding Israeli withdrawals before taking any concrete steps.

“They agreed to it, but as usual they are trying to set conditions and demand Israeli withdrawals first,” one official said.

The roadmap presented by Peace Board CEO Nikolay Mladenov to the United Nations calls for Hamas to completely disarm and transfer its weapons to a Palestinian technocratic committee operating alongside the International Stabilization Force (ISF). Officials stressed that the weapons would not be handed directly to Israel but to an internationally backed Palestinian body.

Following Hamas’ recent meeting with mediators in Cairo, messages were reportedly relayed to Mladenov indicating that the terror group is prepared to discuss collecting its weapons and removing them from operational use.

Despite that apparent shift, officials remain skeptical of Hamas’ intentions. According to those familiar with the talks, Hamas has carefully avoided committing to surrendering all of its weapons and is instead seeking alternatives, including storing weapons in centralized depots rather than relinquishing them entirely.

During the negotiations, Hamas reportedly lashed out at Mladenov, accusing him of trying to strip the group of “its last bullet” and arguing that families should be allowed to retain weapons for self-defense.

Peace Board officials and international mediators insist there will be no compromise on the issue, maintaining that Hamas must completely disarm without exceptions or creative arrangements that would allow it to preserve military capabilities.

Although Mladenov has agreed to minor adjustments in the wording of the proposal, officials said the core demands remain unchanged. Negotiators are now awaiting Hamas’ formal response but believe the group is following a familiar pattern of delaying while attempting to shape public opinion.

“Hamas is playing its usual games and turning to pro-Hamas media to claim that Mladenov is doing Israel’s bidding,” one official involved in the talks said.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)