Hamas ready to fight if Gaza war resumes

DOHA, Oct 12 (AFP): Hamas stands ready to fight if war resumes in Gaza and rejects proposals to leave the territory under US President Donald Trump's peace plan, a senior official told AFP on Saturday.

Political bureau member Hossam Badran also predicted difficult negotiations ahead, suggesting the key question of disarmament could be a sticking point for the Palestinian militant group.

He was speaking in Doha-where Israel struck a Hamas meeting last month, killing six people-as a ceasefire holds in Gaza ahead of a Monday deadline for the release of Israeli hostages captured during Hamas's October 7, 2023 attacks.

However, many parts of US President Donald Trump's proposal have still not been agreed, including Hamas's disarmament and plans for post-war governance.

Does Hamas intend to retain its weapons?

Hossam Badran: "It is important to note that Hamas's weapons are not the only ones. Today we are talking about weapons that are the weapons of the entire Palestinian people, and weapons in the Palestinian case are a natural thing and a part of history, the present, and the future.

Israel vows to destroy

Gaza tunnels once

hostages free

Israel plans to destroy what remains of Hamas's network of tunnels under Gaza, working with US approval after its hostages are freed, it said Sunday.

Defence Minister Israel Katz said the operation would be conducted under an "international mechanism" led by the United States, sponsor of the three-day-old Gaza ceasefire.

"Israel's great challenge after the hostage release phase will be the destruction of all Hamas terrorist tunnels in Gaza," Katz said in a statement.