GAZA CITY – Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi stated Thursday that Palestinian factions will retain their weapons until Israel demonstrates full adherence to the October 2025 ceasefire agreement. The remarks, made during a press conference on February 12, 2026, underscore the fragile state of negotiations aimed at stabilizing the Gaza Strip.
Mardawi emphasized that disarmament discussions are contingent on Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza and compliance with existing agreements. "Our weapons are tied to the political future of our people," he said, reiterating Hamas’s commitment to the ceasefire that began on October 10, 2025. He added that a sovereign Palestinian state would centralize arms under a "legitimate authority" aligned with national aspirations.
The current ceasefire, brokered last October, initially focused on prisoner exchanges and humanitarian aid. A proposed second phase calls for a full Israeli military withdrawal, Hamas disarmament, and Gaza’s reconstruction under transitional governance. Analysts suggest mutual distrust remains a key obstacle, with Hamas demanding guarantees against renewed hostilities before considering disarmament.
Regional stakeholders, including Egypt and Qatar, continue to mediate talks. Meanwhile, Gaza residents report modest improvements in aid delivery since the ceasefire began, though reconstruction efforts remain stalled pending political progress.
