A senior Hamas official has said the Palestinian militant group will not disarm until Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza, contradicting President Trump's announcement that Hamas had agreed to a peace deal including disarmament.
Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas' negotiating delegation, said the issue of disarmament is tied to Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and the territory's reconstruction. He added that Israel would have no role in the process, which would instead be carried out by a Palestinian national committee.
Trump, meanwhile, said Hamas and his international "Board of Peace" have agreed on the next steps in a peace deal, including Hamas' disarmament in the Gaza Strip. He described it as part of the next phase of the ceasefire agreement.
The conflicting statements come as violence continues in Gaza despite the truce. Health officials reported that Israeli strikes on Thursday killed at least four people, including two children.