Hamas: Demanding Disarmament Without Implementing Phase One Contradicts Trump's Own Gaza Plan

On April 23, 2026, Hamas formally stated that insisting on disarmament while bypassing Phase One obligations of the Gaza ceasefire deal 'contradicts Trump's plan' and 'complicates negotiations over Phase Two,' according to a Hamas spokesman who spoke to Anadolu Agency. Hamas argued that Trump's original framework required sequential fulfillment of Phase One commitments — including full IDF withdrawal from populated areas and unrestricted humanitarian corridors — before Phase Two disarmament talks could begin. By attempting to link disarmament to Phase Two negotiations while Israel allegedly remained in violation of Phase One, the US and Board of Peace were in Hamas's view inverting the agreed sequencing. The statement reflected Hamas's continued refusal to accept the Board of Peace's eight-month disarmament framework and its insistence on a political pathway to Palestinian statehood before any weapons surrender. The IDF, in response, maintained that targeted operations against active threats would continue regardless of the negotiating status. The US maintained optimism that Hamas would eventually enter the process in early May 2026, but Hamas gave no indication of accepting this timeline. As of April 23, two Board of Peace deadlines had passed (April 14 and April 19) without Hamas acceptance, and Cairo backchannel contacts continued without breakthrough.