DOHA, Qatar – Hamas intends to maintain security control in Gaza during an interim period, a senior Hamas official told Reuters, adding he could not commit to the terrorist group disarming — positions that reflect the difficulties facing US plans to secure an end to the war.

Hamas politburo member Mohammed Nazzal also said the terror organization was ready for a ceasefire of up to five years to rebuild devastated Gaza, with guarantees for what happens afterwards depending on Palestinians being given “horizons and hope” for statehood.

Speaking to Reuters in an interview from Doha, where Hamas leaders have long resided, Nazzal defended the terror group’s crackdown in Gaza, where it carried out summary public executions on Monday. There were always “exceptional measures” during war and those executed were criminals guilty of killing, he claimed.

While Hamas has broadly expressed these views before, the timing of Nazzal’s comments demonstrates the major obstacles obstructing efforts to cement a full end to the war started by the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, terror onslaught against Israel, days after the first phase of the ceasefire was agreed.

They point to big gaps between Hamas’s positions and US President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, ahead of negotiations expected to address Hamas’ weapons and how the enclave is governed.

Asked for comment on Nazzal’s remarks, the Prime Minister’s Office said Israel was committed to the ceasefire agreement and continued to uphold and fulfill its side of the plan.

“Hamas is supposed to release all hostages in stage 1. It has not. Hamas knows where the bodies of our hostages are. Hamas are to be disarmed under this agreement. No ifs, no buts. They have not. Hamas need to adhere to the 20-point plan. They are running out of time,” it said in a statement to........

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