Daijiworld Media Network - Gaza

Gaza, Oct 12: Hamas has announced that it will not participate in the official signing of the Gaza peace deal in Egypt, citing objections to key elements of US President Donald Trump’s proposed plan.

Hossam Badran, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, called the suggestion that Hamas members leave the Gaza Strip “absurd and nonsense.” He warned that the next phase of negotiations would be “full of complexities and difficulties.”

Another Hamas official also rejected the US-proposed disarmament, stating that surrendering weapons “is out of the question and not negotiable.” Trump had earlier indicated that the issue of Hamas giving up its weapons would be addressed during the second phase of the peace plan.

The announcement comes ahead of Trump’s Middle East visit over the next two days, during which he is expected to mark the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza since Hamas’s October 7 attack two years ago and promote the next phase of his plan.

Meanwhile, thousands of displaced Palestinians returned to Gaza neighborhoods as the ceasefire entered its second day. Around 200 US troops have arrived in Israel to monitor the ceasefire and facilitate humanitarian, logistical, and security support. The head of the US Central Command also visited Gaza on Saturday.

Hamas has recalled approximately 7,000 members of its security forces to reassert control over areas vacated by Israeli troops and appointed five new governors with military backgrounds. Mobilisation orders reportedly sent via phone and text instructed fighters to report within 24 hours to “cleanse Gaza of outlaws and collaborators with Israel.”