The Palestinian Hamas movement is ready to discuss "freezing or storing" its weapons arsenal as part of a ceasefire with Israel, a senior Hamas official said on Monday, offering a possible formula for resolving one of the thorniest issues in the US-brokered deal.
Hamas political decision-making bureau member Basem Naim spoke as the two sides prepare to move into the second and more complicated phase of the agreement.
"We are open to a comprehensive approach to avoid further escalation or any further conflicts," Naim told The Associated Press in Doha, where much of the group's leadership is based.
The agreement halted Israel's two-year offensive in the Gaza Strip, launched in response to a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
When asked if the attack was a mistake, Naim replied that it was an "act of defense."
Since the ceasefire came into effect in October, Hamas and Israel have carried out a series of exchanges of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
The new phase aims to determine the future of the devastated Gaza Strip and promises to be even more difficult - dealing with issues such as the deployment of international security forces, the formation of a Palestinian committee in Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory and the disarmament of Hamas.
An international committee, headed by US President Donald Trump, is supposed to oversee the implementation of the agreement and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
Israel's demand that Hamas lay down its arms promises to be particularly difficult. Israeli officials see it as a key demand that could stall progress in other areas.
Hamas's ideology is deeply rooted in what it calls armed resistance against Israel, and its leaders have rejected calls for surrender despite more than two years of war in which large parts of Gaza have been destroyed and tens of thousands of Palestinians killed.
Naim said Hamas retains its "right to resist," but added that the group is ready to lay down its arms as part of a process aimed at leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state. He gave few details on how that might work, but suggested a long-term ceasefire of five or 10 years for talks.
"That time must be used seriously and in a comprehensive manner," Naim said, adding that Hamas is "very open-minded" about what to do with its weapons.
"We can talk about freezing or storing or laying it down, with Palestinian guarantees, that we don't use it at all during this period of ceasefire or truce," he said.
It is unclear whether the offer would meet Israel's demands for complete disarmament.
The ceasefire is based on a 20-point plan that Trump presented to the international community in October.
The plan, adopted by the United Nations (UN) Security Council, offered a general path forward. But it is vague on details or timelines and will require arduous negotiations involving the United States and mediators including Qatar, Egypt and Turkey.
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