Hamas rejects fabricated reports on its disarmament stance
Mahmoud Mardawi denies media reports on Hamas agreeing to disarm in Gaza ceasefire talks, calling them "unfounded" and "misleading".
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Masked fighters from the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, march with their weapons along the main road of Nusseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021 (AP)
Mahmoud Mardawi, a senior official in the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, denied on Sunday the fabricated claims circulated by Al Hadath TV and several other media outlets regarding the ceasefire negotiation process and the movement's position on disarmament.
Mardawi asserted that what was published is "completely unfounded and aims to distort the stance and confuse public opinion," calling on the media to ensure accuracy and credibility in how they handle statements and to avoid falling for rumors and false anonymous sources. He emphasized the importance of obtaining information and statements from the Hamas movement's official channels.
Earlier today, numerous media outlets had claimed that a Hamas leader had informed them of the movement's agreement to hand over its weapons to a Palestinian-Egyptian body under international supervision.
The movement's official response to Trump's proposal for a ceasefire agreed to the handover of all Israeli captives, as per the exchange framework outlined in the proposal, but it conditioned "other issues, concerning the future of the Gaza Strip and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, on a unified national position and in accordance with relevant international laws and resolutions."
'Israel' agreed to initial withdrawal line, pending Hamas stance: Trump
This closely follows an announcement by US President Donald Trump earlier on Sunday, declaring that "Israel" agreed to an initial withdrawal line in Gaza as part of ongoing negotiations toward a ceasefire in the territory.
In a Truth Social post, Trump claimed that the proposal, which had been shared with Hamas and is awaiting confirmation for an immediate ceasefire and a concurrent captive and prisoner exchange, would also establish the conditions for the subsequent phase of withdrawal, moving the war toward the conclusion of what he termed "this 3,000-year catastrophe."
US President Donald Trump revealed on Saturday that negotiations for a ceasefire and captives' release in the Gaza Strip are nearing completion. In a statement to Axios, Trump said he expects the deal to be finalized "within days" and described his direct involvement in pushing all parties, most notably "Israel" and Hamas, toward an agreement.
"I said, 'Bibi, this is your chance for victory.' He was fine with it. He has to be," Trump stated, referencing his conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "With me, you got to be fine."
"Israel's" genocidal war on Gaza, now nearing its two-year mark, may be heading toward a resolution, with Trump's remarks indicating the most significant diplomatic breakthrough in months.