Khaled Meshaal, Hamas’s political leader outside Gaza, pledged that the group would take steps to curb any future attacks against Israel from the besieged Palestinian enclave, but added that handing over weapons would be like “removing the soul” from the group.

In an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic MawazinHamas political leaders will go on air Wednesday night to outline the group’s position on key issues, amid growing concerns that momentum in ceasefire talks could wane as the first phase ends.

Hamas said on Tuesday that the ceasefire could not move forward if Israel continued with its ceasefire. breach of agreementAuthorities say the truce has been violated at least 738 times since it came into effect on October 10.

Meshaal also told Al Jazeera that Hamas would not accept non-Palestinians running Gaza amid speculation over the composition of US President Donald Trump’s so-called “peace council”, which has been considered a possible alternative to Hamas rule since 2006.

financial times report On Tuesday, the former British Prime Minister Tony BlairCandidacy for the committee was ruled out due to opposition from several Arab and Muslim countries.

Blair is severely soiled For his key role in the 2003 invasion and subsequent occupation and destruction of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, as well as his failed role as the Quartet’s envoy to the Middle East.

Hamas had expressed its opposition to Blair’s appointment in September, with its official Hussam Badran calling him “an unpopular figure” and “an ominous sign”. “He has brought nothing to the Palestinian cause, Arabs or Muslims, and his criminal and destructive role has been known for years,” Badran said.

The U.S.-brokered ceasefire in October has been largely adhered to, despite frequent ceasefire violations by Israel and fewer incidents by Hamas. At least 377 people were killed in Israeli attacks. However, at last week’s Doha forum, mediators warned that momentum behind the deal was waning.

Prime Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani explain At the forum, the ceasefire in Gaza was at a “critical moment,” while the foreign ministers of Türkiye and Egypt urged the United States and other parties to redouble their efforts to keep the process on track.

All but one of the captives, living or deceased, brought to Gaza during the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel in October 2023 have now been repatriated, while Israeli authorities have also released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners back to Gaza as part of a deal to end the fighting.

The bodies of many Palestinian prisoners showed signs of destruction torture, mutilation and execution, Family members were unable to identify them.

On Tuesday, a Hamas official explain Israel has not fully complied with the phase one deal, citing unopened Rafah crossing, aid flows well below agreed levels, and almost daily Israeli attacks.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the first phase was nearly complete and said he aimed to “achieve the same results in the second phase,” adding will meet Trump will push the process later this month in Washington, D.C.

A U.S. official told Al Jazeera that intense negotiations for the second phase are ongoing and making progress.

Meshal told Al Jazeera that increased aid entering Gaza is crucial for the start of the second phase, which will mark the official end of the war and include a full Israeli withdrawal – beyond the so-called Yellow Line, which still leaves Israel in control of more than half of Gaza – a key goal of Hamas.

“We told the mediators that Gaza needs people who can help it rise and recover,” Meshaal said.

Disarmament will be a key issue. Israel made the demands and Hamas officials expressed ambivalence, but Meshaal said it was akin to “removing the soul of the organization.” Hamas officials have previously said they are ready to give up their weapons to a Palestinian state.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey may join the International Stabilization Force in Gaza responsible for disarming Hamas. He urged patience at the Doha Forum, saying disarmament would not happen in the “first phase” and stressing that “we need to do it in the right order and remain realistic.”

Israel opposes the presence of Turkish troops in Gaza and says disarming Hamas must be its top priority once the second phase begins.

On Sunday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdulati said Israeli security forces needed to be sent to Gaza “as soon as possible” because “on the one hand, Israel is violating the ceasefire every day but claiming responsibility for it on the other side, so we need to deploy monitors on the yellow side for verification and monitoring.”