Hamas Rejects Disarmament Calls Amid Gaza Ceasefire

Hamas has rejected calls for disarmament before Israel fully implements the first phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza, viewing these demands as an attempt to continue what it calls genocide against Palestinians. In a televised statement, Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida stated that raising the issue of weapons 'in a crude manner' would not be accepted.

The disarmament issue is a major obstacle in talks to implement U.S. President Donald Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza, aimed at cementing the ceasefire and ending the war in the besieged territory. Hamas has told mediators it will not discuss giving up arms without guarantees that Israel will completely withdraw from Gaza.

Meanwhile, an Israeli airstrike killed at least 10 people and wounded several others near a school housing displaced Palestinians on Monday. The strike occurred in central Gaza Strip, east of Maghazi refugee camp. Before the strikes, some Palestinians had clashed with members of an Israeli-backed militia, who they said attacked the school in an attempt to abduct some people.

According to health officials, at least 10 people were killed and dozens injured, including six in critical condition, by Israeli shelling and clashes east of Maghazi refugee camp. In the midst of the clashes, Israeli drones fired two missiles, killing at least 10 people and wounding several others.

The exact sequence of events remains unclear as both sides trade blame over violations of the ceasefire that began in October. Since then, the Gaza health ministry says at least 723 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, while Israel claims five soldiers have been killed by militants in Gaza over the same period.

Hamas' October 2023 attacks on Israel killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's ensuing campaign has resulted in more than 72,300 Palestinian deaths, most of them civilians. The conflict has had significant impacts on global politics and economies.

Israel is seizing more territory from its neighbors in preparation for a long, drawn-out conflict across the Middle East. This strategic shift follows the attacks of October 7, 2023, and acknowledges that Iran's clerical leadership, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and militias across the region cannot be eliminated outright.

Israel has created 'buffer zones' in Gaza, Syria, and now Lebanon. These zones are designed to protect Israeli border towns from rocket-propelled grenade fire by clearing areas stretching 5-10 km beyond the border. The aim is to preemptively attack emerging threats rather than waiting for attacks to come.

Under the ceasefire agreement, Israel is meant to withdraw from all of Gaza as Hamas disarms. However, the chances of this happening in the near future appear slim. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel has established security belts deep beyond its borders in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon.

The Lebanese buffer zone plan involves destroying homes in Shi'ite Muslim villages believed to be used by Hezbollah for storing weapons or staging attacks. This strategy is seen as a new security doctrine where border communities cannot be protected from the border itself.