Hamas Submits Counterproposals on Disarmament as Saturday Deadline Passes Without Acceptance

On April 11, 2026 — the Saturday deadline set by the Board of Peace for Hamas to formally accept or reject the phased disarmament framework — Hamas did not provide an outright acceptance but instead submitted counterproposals and amendments to the framework. Sources told the Times of Israel that Hamas was not expected to formally accept the offer by the deadline, but talks remained ongoing in Cairo with Board of Peace High Representative Nickolay Mladenov, Egyptian, Qatari, Turkish, and US representatives present. Hamas's counterproposals insisted on full Israeli implementation of Phase One commitments (complete IDF withdrawal from populated areas, restoration of humanitarian aid flows, return of displaced Palestinians) before any disarmament process could begin. The political wing's decision to submit amendments rather than a flat rejection was interpreted by diplomats as a signal that the political leadership was attempting to avoid triggering a full collapse of the ceasefire while the military wing continued to publicly reject disarmament. Sources expressed cautious hope that a final Hamas decision could come 'in the coming days.'