Hamas's Sneaky Stash: Terrorists Float 'Freezing' Guns to Cheat Ceasefire

In a calculated bid to buy time and evade true accountability, Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim declared Sunday from Doha that the terrorist group is "ready to discuss 'freezing or storing'" its vast arsenal as part of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Israel, offering a vague "formula" that reeks of deception amid Phase Two negotiations. Speaking to the Associated Press in Qatar's capital, where Hamas leadership luxuriates in luxury hotels funded by Doha, Naim insisted: "We are open to have a comprehensive approach in order to avoid further escalations or in order to avoid any further clashes or explosions." He floated a 5-to-10-year "long-term truce" for "serious and comprehensive" talks leading to a Palestinian state, while preserving Hamas's "right to existence." "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 added, welcoming a U.N. force "near the borders" to monitor violations but rejecting any "mandate" for internal enforcement in "Palestinian territories."

This comes as Israel braces for Phase Two of President Trump's 20-point plan, adopted by the UN Security Council in October 2025, which demands full Hamas disarmament under an International Stabilization Force (ISF) before Israeli withdrawal, except for a U.S.-secured perimeter to prevent rearmament. Backed by guarantors Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, the blueprint envisions a reformed Palestinian Authority (PA) governance post-overhaul, but Naim's proposal is a non-starter: "freezing" lets terrorists retain thousands of rockets, rifles, and tunnels for future atrocities, echoing their refusal to dissolve the military wing or hand over arms unconditionally. When pressed on October 7, 2023, the day Hamas butchers raped, murdered, and kidnapped 1,200 Israelis, igniting the war, Naim shamelessly called it a "defensive act," denying responsibility for 200 holdouts in Rafah tunnels clashing with IDF troops, claiming "communications totally cut."

Naim touted progress on a technocratic committee with the PA to run Gaza, proposing a "Palestinian cabinet minister" from Gaza roots but residing "in the West Bank" to lead, yet another stall tactic, as Hamas drags hostage returns (only 12 of 28 bodies yielded, stalling aid) and rejects demilitarization. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed such overtures Sunday, vowing Phase Two prioritizes "disarming Hamas and demilitarizing Gaza," with no role for the terrorists who executed hostages like Hadar Goldin (remains held 11 years) and starved Eli Sharabi for 491 days. Qatar's PM Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani echoed the farce, pledging aid but refusing to "write the cheque to rebuild what others have destroyed", pointing fingers at Israel while ignoring Hamas's aid diversion to terror infrastructure.

This "openness" is pure Hamas theater: the group, backed by Iran and Qatar, has hoarded weapons despite war losses, using them to shield civilians and launch 26,000+ missiles. Naim's words signal no genuine peace, only a pause to regroup, as seen in their UN veto pleas via Algeria. For Israel, defending against proxies while burying 700 soldiers, it's a reminder: terrorists like Hamas negotiate with one hand while plotting with the other. Trump's plan demands surrender, not storage, ensuring Gaza's innocents escape the terrorists' boot, not inherit it.