Hamas states that it would begin disarmament only if Israel halts military strikes and withdraws from Gaza. Both outlets report that Hamas links any process of laying down weapons to broader political conditions rather than a single immediate step. PBS NewsHour adds that Hamas describes disarmament as contingent on the creation of a Palestinian state, with Hamas indicating that heavy weapons would be addressed later in a staged process. Israel’s government does not accept the prospect of a Palestinian state as described in Hamas’s conditions, creating a major obstacle to negotiations.
Courthouse NewsHour frames the situation in terms of the current control and damage on the ground, noting that Israel controls about 60% of Gaza and that much of the territory has been heavily destroyed and depopulated. With large-scale destruction and displacement reported alongside the territorial and security realities, the outlets indicate that significant practical and political barriers remain before any disarmament agreement could be implemented.
