Hamas ready to discuss disarmament

Hamas is ready to discuss “freezing or storing” its arsenal of weapons as part of its ceasefire with Israel, member of Hamas’s decision-making political bureau Bassem Naim said.

a senior official says, offering a possible formula to resolve one of the thorniest issues in the U.S.-brokered agreement.

"We are open to have a comprehensive approach in order to avoid further escalations or in order to avoid any further clashes or explosions,” Naim said.

According to him, Hamas retains its “right to resist,” but the group is ready to lay down its arms as part of a process aimed at leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state, The Associated Press reported.

“We can talk about freezing or storing or laying down, with the Palestinian guarantees, not to use it at all during this ceasefire time or truce,” Naim said.

The sides are preparing to enter the second phase of the U.S.-backed plan in the near future.