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Hamas Military Commanders in Gaza Resist Surrendering Arms
(Wall Street Journal) Summer Said - On Friday, Hamas said it was willing to release hostages and hand over Gaza. But Hamas used hedged language that some observers saw as problematic to clinching a final peace. While Arab mediators said Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas's top negotiator, and several other senior political officials support accepting the U.S. proposal despite significant reservations, they have limited sway over the group's armed wing in Gaza. Mediators said Hamas leader in Gaza Ezzedin al-Haddad is willing to give up rockets and other offensive weapons to Egypt and the UN for storage, but he wants to retain small arms such as assault rifles. Moreover, Hamas commanders inside Gaza say they won't be able to enforce compliance with disarmament demands among fighters if they accept a deal that amounts to surrender. Mediators warn that some Hamas fighters could defect to other Palestinian militant groups such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad, leaving uncertainty over whether a deal with Hamas alone could halt the fighting. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called Hamas's response "a classic 'Yes, but.' No disarmament, keeping Gaza under Palestinian control, and tying hostage release to negotiations, along with other problems. This is, in essence, a rejection by Hamas of President Trump's 'take it or leave it' proposal."