Hamas has voiced growing anger over the insistence of Nikolay Mladenov, head of the Board of Peace, on linking the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and an Israeli military withdrawal to the issue of disarmament.
The movement has informed mediators it will not move to the second phase of talks unless Israel fully implements all terms of the first phase.
Israeli channel Kan reported on Sunday evening that a sharp dispute is escalating between Hamas and mediators over the disarmament issue. It said talks between Mladenov and a Hamas delegation led by Khalil al-Hayya have reached a deadlock.
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Hamas is insisting on the full implementation of the first phase before discussing any subsequent steps. It also demands that the issue of weapons be addressed within a comprehensive national framework, after guarantees are in place for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
In contrast, Israel has refused to withdraw to the “yellow line”, a position it conveyed to Mladenov last week. Hamas sees this stance as undermining the understandings and representing a fundamental departure from the terms of the first phase.
According to the report, the movement also rejects Mladenov’s push to address disarmament before the reconstruction of Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Hamas has reiterated to mediators that it will not proceed to the second phase unless Israel commits to fully implementing all provisions of the first phase.
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