Peace Council Criticizes Hamas Control in Gaza and Doubts Disarmament Prospects

Following Hamas's further dismantling of its control over Gaza, the Peace Council issued a formal statement outlining a "roadmap" for a political transition and the ideal of "one authority, one law, and one weapon" under the National Committee for Gaza Administration (NCAG). The Council expressed hope for the completion of discussions and the transfer of powers to the NCAG, referencing UN Security Council Resolution 2803 as a framework. However, the Council also emphasized that it will judge progress by actions rather than words.

Critics argue that Hamas, an organization deeply entrenched in armed control, is unlikely to relinquish its weapons to any governing body. The demand for "one weapon under the committee's control" is seen as unrealistic given Hamas's unwillingness to surrender power, especially its military assets within Gaza. Meanwhile, international committees debate mechanisms to empower the NCAG as an independent decision-making entity, but on the ground, chaos persists.

The ongoing Palestinian internal divisions hinder any consensus, and attempts by the Peace Council to impose order on a faction that rejects such concepts reveal the international community's disconnect from Gaza's violent reality. Ultimately, the Peace Council's roadmap is expected to clash with the entrenched hostilities between Hamas and Fatah, with little hope that official declarations will lead to disarmament or unified governance in Gaza.