Hamas agrees to surrender heavy weapons in 'painful' decision as part of Gaza ceasefire deal

The Palestinian group Hamas has agreed to a written agreement for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire based on a "comprehensive package" of reciprocal and simultaneous commitments, a senior Hamas official, Ghazi Hamad, told Anadolu on Friday.

But the group’s commitment is conditional on Israel's full implementation of the first phase, during which the Israeli military has continued to attack and kill civilians in the battered Palestinian enclave.

Hamad, a member of Hamas' political bureau and its negotiating delegation, said the group had approved a "clear, written agreement" covering Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, reconstruction, the deployment of international forces, the assumption of duties by the National Committee for Administration of Gaza, and weapons arrangements.

He said implementation of the second phase depends on Israel first fulfilling all of its obligations under the first phase, adding that the agreement should be treated as a single, integrated package.

"If Israel does not implement (its obligations under the agreement), we will not implement ours either," Hamad said.

On the weapons issue, Hamad said the agreement provides for heavy weapons to be placed under the responsibility of the National Committee for Administration of Gaza as the remaining provisions are implemented.

Those provisions, he said, include Israel's gradual withdrawal from Gaza leading to a full pullout, the National Committee assuming its duties, the deployment of international forces, and the dismantling of armed gangs that operate on "Israel's behalf."

Hamad said the agreement also provides for an international oversight committee to monitor implementation on an ongoing basis.

He said Hamas will participate in a new round of talks in the coming days to finalise implementation mechanisms and timelines.

The movement's negotiating delegation is expected to meet mediators, US representatives, and Nikolay Mladenov, whom Hamad identified as the high representative of the Board of Peace.

Hamad noted that Israel has not officially announced its approval of the agreement.

He described the agreement as "painful and difficult" for Hamas, saying the movement had hoped for a better deal but accepted it because of conditions in Gaza, an ongoing "genocide," and the humanitarian catastrophe.

Hamas accepted the agreement to spare Gaza further destruction and stop Israel from implementing a plan to displace Palestinians from the enclave.

Hamad added that the agreement followed "Palestinian national consultations and meetings with Palestinian factions" to ensure a unified, consensus-based Palestinian position.