Hamas can survive politically by giving up weapons and armed conflict, peace envoy says
The UN's former Middle East special representative, Nikolay Mladenov, said Hamas could survive politically on condition that it gives up armed struggle. The statement was made while Gaza ceasefire talks are continuing. Hamas had previously said that this framework was open to negotiation.
In an interview with the BBC, the UN's former Middle East Special Representative, Nikolay Mladenov, said Hamas could play a role as a political actor in Gaza and on the wider Palestinian stage on condition that it disbands its armed wing. Mladenov stressed that this approach was an alternative to the scenarios of 'either disappearance or military victory'.
According to Mladenov, the framework envisages Hamas's political bureau publicly accepting a commitment to disarm, followed by the formation of a transitional government and elections guaranteed by international observation. Diplomatic sources said the model was being discussed in the ceasefire talks being mediated by Egypt and Qatar.
A Hamas political bureau representative said the framework could remain 'as a negotiable starting point' but stressed that the details were unclear. The Israeli government reiterated that Hamas should not only disarm but be wholly dissolved. The US State Department said Mladenov's proposal was 'worth considering'.
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