Khaled Qaddoumi, Hamas's representative in Iran, on Saturday expressed optimism about the fulfillment of the first phase of the recent Gaza peace plan while stressing that the future governance of Palestine is up to the Palestinians to decide.
Hamas and Israel on Thursday reached a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, which came into effect later on Friday following the Israeli government's approval of the resolution.
The first phase of the peace plan, achieved after three days of intensive negotiations mediated by Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye and the United States, includes the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza City, the north, Rafah, and Khan Younis, the opening of five crossings for the entry of humanitarian aid, and the release of hostages and prisoners. A temporary technocratic committee of Palestinians, overseen by an international "Board of Peace" chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump and supported by global experts, would run the initial daily governance of Gaza.
Speaking with China Global Television Network (CGTN) in Tehran, Qaddoumi said the deal depends a lot on the credibility of the Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but now that the pact will have its guarantors, it will bring positive results for the Gaza population.
"If they will be exploited positively, we will arrive at good results and good outcomes where it will grant our people a good life, prosperous life, and peaceful life. If not, again and again, I am saying, that will only lead to a lot of frustration, and you will never know where it will end. Netanyahu and his colleagues and his government are dealing till today, since we have announced our approval. It's very worrisome, and it's not telling that they are going to continue with us till the end. It says that they are not trusted, and it says that they want to fail any deal, and this is their habit, unfortunately. I told you in previous interviews that they are not the people and they are not the party to be trusted, but since we are having guarantors, so we are optimistic that we can proceed further, provided everybody has to carry his own responsibility," he said.
As for the future of Palestine, Qaddoumi said only the Palestinians has the right to determine how to govern the strip after two years of conflict.
"Well, see, it is too early to decide on that, but we have drafted the roadmap with the mediators and our common friends in the region and the friends in the resistance people. We thought that we need to build up Gaza. So we went to the Egyptian proposal, which has been given months ago, that we will form a technocrat committee that will be assigned two missions: cleaning the mess which has been created by Netanyahu and his extremist leaders; rebuild Gaza; and then the second task is to prepare the ground for elections. Now, for the future of Palestine, it should be pure Palestinians. I mean, there is no reason to entertain anyone or any name other than Palestinians, and the way and the right to self-determination has to be granted to those who have sacrificed their children, their houses, and their lives for the sake of their homeland," said Qaddoumi.
Hamas official optimistic about fulfillment of phase one of Gaza peace deal
