Hamas Offers To Hand Over Thousands Of Rifles To Gaza’s Palestinian Administrative Committee

Hamas says it is willing to hand over thousands of automatic rifles and other weapons belonging to its police force and other internal security services in the Gaza Strip, according to two representatives of the group.

“22:09 Participation of the Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia in the General Debate of the 82nd Session of ESCAP 19:03 Trump says Israel did not convince him to go to war with Iran 18:53 About 298 million drams to be confiscated in favor of Armenia 18:37 Belgium, Netherlands ambassadors summoned to Azerbaijan MFA over pro-Armenian resolutions 17:43 Armenia government loses to Tashir Capital company in court 17:33 Reuters: Trump to consider lifting Iran blockade 17:12 US dollar depreciates in Armenia 17:08 Parliament speaker: Azerbaijan hindering Armenia-Turkey normalization process 16:10 Armen Grigoryan, Kevin Hamilton discuss prospects for development of Armenia-NATO relations 15:30 FM: Lebanon embroiled in war it did not choose 14:55 Ship traffic in Strait of Hormuz virtually stopped 14:50 Israel’s Mossad, Azerbaijani intelligence foil Iranian operation in Azerbaijan 14:32 Oil spill in Black Sea after drone attack 14:21 Number of ships passing through Strait of Hormuz reaches highest level since early March 14:18 World Bank: Armenia economic activity growth slows slightly, but inflation increases 13:54 Azerbaijan presents its version of Washington agreement with Armenia 13:50 CaseKey team secures 3rd place at CUBE 2026 international competition 13:18 New York Times: Hamas ready to lay down some arms, hand over Gaza control to other forces, sources say 13:11 This year's Torchlight Procession in Yerevan to be held under slogan ‘The Struggle Continues’ 12:22 Armenia defense minister, NATO official discuss cooperation 11:21 Iran ambassador to Russia: Trump won’t be able to achieve through talks what he failed to achieve through war 10:48 Reuters: Global market loses more than $50bln due to oil supply disruptions because of Middle East conflict 10:16 Hezbollah claims attack on Israel forces in southern Lebanon 10:04 Armenia PM presents ruling party’s election platform (VIDEO) 09:59 CNN: Iran asks US to ease sanctions, unfreeze assets, source says 09:49 Israel army confirms authenticity of photo of damaged Jesus statue in Lebanon 09:47 UN: Middle East conflict has caused energy crisis in Asia-Pacific region 09:12 Kuwait keeps its airspace closed for 52 consecutive days 08:25 Iran insists on ceasefire in Lebanon, unfreezing of frozen assets 08:24 US strikes ship in Caribbean, 3 dead 08:00 Oil prices rise sharply during trading 07:26 Iran says it struck US warships after seizure of Iranian vessel 14:32 Armenia deputy FM gives interviews to Turkish media 11:53 Armenia PM reunites with divorced wife”

Armenia News

The offer, described as a notable concession, would transfer the weapons to the Palestinian Administrative Committee created to govern Gaza by the Peace Council, an organization led by President Donald Trump to oversee the ceasefire.

Folha de S.Paulo

The proposal is framed as falling short of total disarmament and demilitarization of Gaza, which Israel and the Trump peace plan demand, including removing Hamas from power and preventing it from playing any role in government.

The two Hamas political leadership officials based in Gaza answered questions from the New York Times in writing and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Their comments were made as Hamas and the Peace Council officials were negotiating in Cairo last week.

The offer also does not specify which internal security services beyond the police would hand over weapons, and the officials did not give a clear answer when asked whether the committee could confiscate weapons belonging to Hamas’s military wing.

Analysts estimate that Hamas’s military wing has far more weapons than its police force, including “tens of thousands of automatic rifles” and heavier weapons such as “anti-tank rockets,” while the group has resisted demands for total demilitarization.

The Hamas offer is also linked to governance transition plans, with the officials saying Hamas has completed preparations for a total transfer of power, with the only obstacle being the absence of the new administration on the ground in Gaza.

The arms proposal is tied to negotiations in Cairo, where Hamas and Peace Council officials were described as working “last week” toward a ceasefire framework.

Multiple outlets describe the weapons handover as part of discussions linked to the ceasefire, with the New York Times reporting that two Gaza-based Hamas officials spoke under anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

News18

The Jerusalem Post says the two officials are based in Gaza and that the report notes the proposal would not include full disarmament of Hamas’s small weapons because it would retain weapons in its “so-called military wing, the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades.”

News18 similarly says the offer does not include full disarmament demanded by Israel and a central part of Trump’s peace plan, and it repeats that the officials did not give a clear answer about whether weapons belonging to Hamas’s military wing would be surrendered.

Folha de S.Paulo adds that the proposal falls short of total disarmament and demilitarization and that the plan would also remove Hamas from power and prevent it from playing any role in government.

The Caliber.Az account frames the weapons transfer as being to a Palestinian administrative committee established to govern Gaza under the Board of Peace, an international body led by President Trump to oversee the cease-fire.

In a separate thread, samanews.ps reports that a senior official in the “Peace Council” affiliated with U.S. President Donald Trump said the movement is placing “a series of conditions in exchange for disarming itself,” and that “The talks are still lengthy.”

That same samanews.ps item says the United States will not agree to anything but a “real and complete agreement,” and that after a week of negotiations, the parties were “still in roughly the same position.”

The accounts include direct statements and reported positions from Hamas-linked figures and from Israeli leadership, alongside testimony from a displaced Gaza resident.

“Hamas is willing to hand over thousands of automatic rifles and other weapons belonging to its police force and to other internal security services in the Gaza Strip, according to two representatives of the group”

Folha de S.Paulo

Folha de S.Paulo quotes Mkhaimar Abusada, a political science professor at Al-Azhar University in Gaza who now lives in Cairo, saying, “Hamas may be just trying to avoid rejecting Trump's plan,” and adding, “But if they agree to hand over the police's weapons, that could open the door to new negotiations on the rest of their arms.”

The same Folha de S.Paulo report says Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is promising to disarm Hamas by force if necessary, and it notes that many in Gaza fear a new round of hostilities.

News18 includes a warning about another conflict, quoting Saed Abu Aita, a displaced civilian who lost two daughters in an airstrike and is living in a tent in central Gaza, saying, “We want both Hamas to give up weapons and Israeli forces to withdraw.”

The Jerusalem Post also quotes Saed Abu Aita, a 45-year-old Gaza resident whose two daughters were killed in an Israeli airstrike early in the war, telling The New York Times, “We, the innocent people in Gaza, want an end to this situation,” and “We want Hamas to give up their weapons and the Israelis to withdraw.”

In addition, the Jerusalem Post reports that the IDF said on Friday it expected Hamas to start disarming soon, with the military showing growing confidence that Hamas is leaning toward taking “painful” steps to avoid Israel re-invading the Gaza Strip.

The Jerusalem Post further says the US also expects Hamas to begin handing over heavy weapons, including “its remaining rockets, drones, and anti-tank missiles,” along with maps of remaining terror tunnels, during early May.

Folha de S.Paulo describes Hamas’s internal calculus by noting that Gaza-based leaders are powerful voices within the group in deciding on a permanent ceasefire or the group’s future role in the territory.

While the core claim is consistent across reports—that Hamas is ready to hand over thousands of police and internal security weapons—the outlets differ in emphasis, terminology, and the surrounding timeline.

Folha de S.Paulo frames the proposal as a “notable concession” and ties it directly to a Peace Council-led governance plan, saying Hamas would transfer weapons to the Palestinian Administrative Committee created to govern Gaza by the Peace Council, “the organization led by President Donald Trump to oversee the ceasefire.”

The Jerusalem Post

Caliber.Az similarly says Hamas is ready to hand over thousands of automatic rifles and other weapons used by its police and internal security units, but it attributes the move to the “theNew York Timesreports” and describes the committee as established to govern Gaza under the Board of Peace.

News18 emphasizes the timing by stating “Six months after the ceasefire with Israel came into effect,” Hamas said on Sunday it is ready to give up thousands of automatic rifles and other weapons used by its police and internal security services.

The Jerusalem Post focuses on the distinction between small weapons and the military wing by specifying that the proposal would not include full disarmament of Hamas’s small weapons because it will retain weapons in the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades.

samanews.ps adds a negotiation-dynamics angle by quoting a Peace Council-affiliated senior official saying, “The talks are still lengthy,” and that “The chances of Hamas agreeing to disarm are equal,” while also stating the United States will not agree to anything but a “real and complete agreement.”

Armenia News, though largely a feed, explicitly repeats the New York Times framing that “Hamas ready to lay down some arms, hand over Gaza control to other forces, sources say.”

Across these accounts, the same underlying offer is presented either as a governance transition step, a partial disarmament signal, or a negotiation process with conditions and uncertainty, depending on the outlet’s focus.

The next steps described in the reports combine a planned governance handover with an expectation of further disarmament and a risk of renewed fighting.

“A senior official in the 'Peace Council' affiliated with U”

samanews.ps

Folha de S.Paulo says Hamas officials told the New York Times that Hamas has completed preparations for a total transfer of power, with the only obstacle being the absence of the new administration on the ground in Gaza, and it adds that the new governing committee has been operating provisionally from Cairo.

Al-Imarat al-Yawm

It also says authorities in Gaza froze new appointments and promotions in anticipation of the transfer, and that Hamas officials expect many Hamas members to reintegrate into the new management system.

News18 likewise says Hamas officials have already held three meetings in Gaza City with other factions and government representatives to prepare for transferring control to the new administrative committee, and it says the committee is currently operating from Cairo.

The Jerusalem Post adds that the IDF expects Hamas to start disarming soon and that the US expects Hamas to begin handing over heavy weapons, including “its remaining rockets, drones, and anti-tank missiles,” along with maps of remaining terror tunnels, during early May.

It also notes that prior to the IDF’s statement there had been significant media speculation that Hamas might take advantage of the fact that Israel and the US would be distracted by the war with Iran and thus attempt to drag out the deadline for entering the first disarmament stage.

In parallel, Folha de S.Paulo reports that the Peace Council demanded that Hamas surrender all its weapons in exchange for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the rebuilding of vast areas destroyed in the war.

For displaced residents, the stakes are immediate: Saed Abu Aita’s testimony in the Jerusalem Post and News18 centers on ending the situation by pairing Hamas weapon handover with Israeli troop withdrawal.