A senior Hamas official has reaffirmed that the Palestinian resistance movement will not implement any measures concerning the control or storage of its weapons before the complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the Gaza Strip.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas's negotiating delegation, said the Movement's position is firmly tied to the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, particularly the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the beginning of Gaza's reconstruction.

"Hamas will not implement any measures related to placing weapons under centralized control or storing them before the occupation withdraws from the Gaza Strip," Hamad said, emphasizing that any future arrangements depend on Israel honoring its commitments under the agreement.

He described the negotiations currently taking place in Egypt as "difficult and tough," but said Hamas's delegation continues to work toward securing the best possible outcome while remaining committed to the Palestinian people's national rights and aspirations.

According to Hamad, the issue of weapons cannot be separated from other key components of the agreement, foremost among them the complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the reconstruction of the war-ravaged enclave.

He stressed that Israel would have no role in any future mechanism concerning the management or storage of weapons, explaining that such responsibilities would instead be entrusted to a Palestinian national committee.

Hamad also praised the mediation efforts led by Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye, expressing appreciation for their continued role in facilitating negotiations and helping move the agreement forward.

Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed additional details regarding the proposed administrative arrangements during the transitional phase.

The official said employees whose services are terminated or who are referred to retirement during the transition will receive all of their legal entitlements in accordance with Palestinian law.

He added that the Gaza Administration Committee will undertake a comprehensive review of the territory's financial and administrative institutions, work to safeguard and recover public assets with international assistance, and evaluate outstanding obligations owed to suppliers and contractors.

According to the official, payments to contractors and suppliers will be capped at $400 million and implemented gradually over a three-year period based on priorities established by the committee.

The latest round of negotiations began last Wednesday in Egypt's New Alamein City, where Hamas's delegation met Egyptian officials headed by General Intelligence Service Director Hassan Rashad. Mediators from Qatar and Türkiye also participated in the talks, which focused on advancing implementation of the agreement's second phase.

The meetings build on earlier discussions launched in Cairo on June 6 involving Palestinian factions and mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye to address unresolved issues and facilitate progress toward the next stage of the ceasefire agreement.

Hamas has repeatedly maintained that any lasting agreement must guarantee a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid, the reconstruction of Gaza, and respect for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. (ILKHA)