Hamas Disarmament Plans Face Scrutiny Over Funding and Military Dismantling

Analysts warn that a U.S.-backed proposal to pay Hamas members in Gaza for surrendering weapons could undermine peace efforts. The plan, reportedly discussed by a Trump‑led peace board, would offer thousands of dollars per rifle and require participants to renounce violence, a strategy critics say may finance further conflict. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh previously rejected a $15 billion development offer that hinged on the group’s disarmament, underscoring the difficulty of monetary incentives.

Dr. Victor Kofi Afetorlom Doke of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre argues that any successful disarmament must also dismantle Hamas’s command structures, financing networks, and regional links, especially those tied to Iran. He notes that Israeli troop withdrawal would depend on a thorough security assessment and sustained international cooperation, highlighting the complex geopolitical stakes of the proposed ceasefire framework.