Senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu has welcomed the exclusion of former British prime minister Tony Blair from the proposed international “Gaza Board of Peace,” describing the move as “a step in the right direction.”

In a statement released on Monday, al-Nunu said that Hamas had repeatedly urged mediators to block Blair’s involvement due to what he described as the former British leader’s clear bias in favor of Israel. He reiterated that Hamas remains ready to enter into a long-term truce, provided that the Israeli occupation fully commits to a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire.

Al-Nunu stressed that the weapons of the resistance would ultimately be integrated into a future Palestinian state once statehood is achieved, framing this as part of a broader national defense framework rather than disarmament under external pressure.

He also firmly rejected any proposal involving an international force tasked with forcibly disarming Gaza, saying Hamas had never discussed or accepted such an idea.

“Hamas has not received any clear or detailed vision about the formation of this so-called international force, including its mandate or areas of deployment,” al-Nunu said, adding that no sovereign country would agree to participate in a mission designed to forcibly disarm Gaza.

He further warned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu harbors ambitions that go beyond the borders of Palestine and that his policies pose a wider threat to regional stability.

The remarks come amid ongoing international discussions about post-war governance and security arrangements in Gaza, as regional and global actors debate proposals for ceasefire guarantees, reconstruction, and future political frameworks for the besieged enclave. (ILKHA)