Hamas Declares Executive Wing Disbanded Amid Gaza Truce Talks and Weapons Dispute

Hamas announced the disbandment of its executive wing in Gaza on July 6, a move seen as largely symbolic amid stalled ceasefire negotiations. The announcement, coupled with a Hamas delegation’s visit to Istanbul ahead of further talks in Cairo, aims to ease criticism of the group and break the deadlock in negotiations without relinquishing control over its weapons.

Sources in Gaza told N12 that the disbandment is a declarative gesture intended to signal flexibility in civilian governance and facilitate the entry of a technocratic committee, while shifting blame for delays onto Israel. However, Hamas remains firm on its refusal to disarm, maintaining that its weapons are legitimate and essential for Palestinian defense. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem emphasized in a Saudi Al-Hadath interview that Palestinian arms are legitimate and part of a political process, contrasting them with what he called Israel’s "criminal" weapons.

Reports indicate that Hamas’s delegation, after recent Cairo talks, traveled to Istanbul to reassess the situation and present a new response document to mediators. Hamas accuses Israel of backtracking on prior agreements brokered by mediators and UN envoy Nikolay Mladenov, demanding disarmament before Israeli withdrawal and refusing to maintain Palestinian government employees in their roles.

Despite progress on over half the disputed issues, three core disagreements remain: Hamas’s weapons, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the status of Palestinian government employees. Hamas has proposed a plan previously accepted by mediators involving mapping, collecting, and storing weapons in areas vacated by Israel, while postponing handling personal arms in Palestinian-controlled zones. Many Gaza residents view the disbandment announcement skeptically, seeing it as a cosmetic change that does not alter Hamas’s control over Gaza’s power centers.

The next steps hinge on whether Israel accepts mediator proposals, with an expanded Hamas leadership meeting expected soon to discuss developments in the ceasefire talks.