CAIRO, 26 Oct. - (ANA) - Hamas would accept the deployment of UN peacekeeping forces in Gaza, however is still in discussions with other Palestinian factions over disarmament, the group's Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya said on Saturday.

 

Speaking to Al Jazeera, al-Hayya said Hamas had reached a consensus with other Palestinian factions over the presence of UN forces, who would be present to oversee the ceasefire and Gaza's reconstruction.

 

Regarding the group's weapons, he said that the issue is "linked to the existence of occupation and aggression, and if the occupation ends, these weapons will be handed over to the state". 

 

Mediators have held discussions in recent days regarding the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, which, according to US President Donald Trump's 20-point plan, would require Hamas to relinquish control of Gaza and put down its weapons.

 

"Once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries," the plan reads.

 

The US and Israel have threatened to resume military action if Hamas does not disarm. Israel, meanwhile, has also been arming anti-Hamas gangs and militias inside Gaza - some of whom are linked to the looting of aid to the enclave.

 

Regarding governance, the Trump plan outlines that a "temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee" will take over Gaza's day-to-day running. However, it adds that the transitional committee will be overseen by a foreign "Board of Peace" headed by Trump himself, and including controversial figures like former UK leader Tony Blair.

 

In his interview on Saturday, Al-Hayya said his group has no objection to a national figure residing in Gaza taking control of the territory's governance.

 

"We want to move toward elections as a prelude to restoring national unity," al-Hayya said.

 

Al-Hayya expressed concern over the pace of aid entering the Gaza Strip, amid continued Israeli obstruction. He said that Israel is preventing the entry of some materials into Gaza "as if we were still in the middle of the war". 

 

“Gaza needs 6,000 aid trucks a day, not just 600,” al-Hayya said.

 

Regarding the remains of the Israeli captives, al-Hayya said his group is continuing its search for them, and is entering new areas on Sunday as part of this.

 

“We will not give the [Israeli] occupation a pretext to resume the war,” al-Hayya said.

 

He also highlighted that efforts are continuing to secure the release of Palestinians detained by Israel, stressing that "the prisoners' cause is a purely national issue, and we seek to end their suffering".

 

AB/ANA/26 October 2025 - - -