A spokesperson for Hamas, Hazem Qassem, has stated that proposed amendments to a U.S.-drafted resolution for the UN Security Council will not contribute to stability in the Gaza Strip. Qassem warned that the draft effectively replaces Israeli occupation with a different form of external control.
According to Qassem, the amendments would grant non-Palestinian entities authority over internal Palestinian affairs, including governance and security. He emphasized that this constitutes interference without allowing for independent Palestinian arrangements.
Hamas is advocating for a UN resolution that strengthens the current ceasefire and establishes an international peacekeeping force in Gaza. Qassem stressed that the resolution must clearly define the force’s mandate: to separate the Israeli military from the civilian population of Gaza and to uphold the ceasefire.
Qassem stated that the United States is attempting to appease certain parties with non-binding language. He underscored the necessity of a Security Council resolution that protects the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, prevents further conflict in Gaza, and mandates a complete end to the occupation.
He further emphasized that the anticipated UN resolution should prevent Israeli encroachment in Gaza, the West Bank, and occupied Jerusalem.
The draft resolution reportedly mentions that, following the implementation of a reform plan for the Palestinian Authority, conditions may be ripe for a credible path toward self-determination and the establishment of a Palestinian state. It also proposes the commencement of a U.S.-led dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians to explore a political horizon for coexistence.
