The political leader says the group will not accept calls for disarmament from Israel and the US, criticizing Trump’s peace plan
Speaking during a conference in Doha, Qatar, the political leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, declared that the Palestinian movement rejects any form of foreign domination or tutelage over the Gaza Strip.
The declaration represents a direct reaction to the peace plan proposed by United States President Donald Trump, which entered its second phase in mid-January.
Rejection of disarmament and defense of “resistance”
Meshaal was emphatic in stating that Hamas will not give up its weapons, ignoring calls from Israel and the US for the group’s disarmament.
“Criminalizing the resistance, its weapons and those who led it is something we must not accept,” he declared. “As long as there is occupation, there will be resistance. Resistance is a right of people under occupation.”
The second phase of the American plan foresees the disarmament of Hamas and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Palestinian enclave. However, the group, which has governed Gaza since 2007, dismissed the proposal, indicating that it would only consider handing over its weapons to a future Palestinian authority.
Concern about reconstruction and governance
The Hamas leader expressed caution toward Trump’s so-called “Peace Council,” which would oversee the transition. Meshaal said the council should take a “balanced approach” to ensuring the reconstruction of Gaza and the flow of humanitarian aid.
However, he made a fundamental reservation: “We adhere to our national principles and reject the logic of trusteeship, any foreign intervention or the return of a mandate in any form. The Palestinians must be governed by Palestinians. Gaza belongs to the people of Gaza and to Palestine.”
Israeli economic interests
The declaration comes at a time when Israel is evaluating its own post-conflict interests. According to a report by the newspaper Haaretz, Israeli authorities are discussing economic opportunities linked to the reconstruction of Gaza. Among the ideas is the construction of a highway in Israeli territory to connect Gaza to the West Bank, financed by other countries, and the exploration of businesses in the supply of electricity to the enclave.
With information from Middle East Eye on 02/08/2026
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2026/02/08/lider-do-hamas-rejeita-dominacao-estrangeira-e-desarmamento/
