Report: Hamas officials abroad told to hand over weapons as symbolic nod to Israeli demand for disarmament

Senior Hamas officials abroad have been told to hand in their personal weapons amid negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of the remaining Israeli hostages, the Times newspaper reports.

The directive came from Qatari mediators, the Times reports, and is largely a symbolic initiative and a nod to Israel’s demand for Hamas’s disarmament, which the terror group has thus far rejected.

It says that among the senior Hamas officials instructed to hand over their weapons are lead negotiator and senior politburo official Khalil al-Hayya; the Istanbul-based leader of Hamas in the West Bank, Zaher Jabarin; and the chair of Hamas’s Shura Council, Muhammad Ismail Darwish.

The report comes as Hamas is reviewing the latest ceasefire proposal, and as mediators and Israel await its response. Earlier today, a Saudi report suggested that Hamas was satisfied with the framework of the deal and would submit its response by Friday.