Hamas Political Bureau Chief Khaled Meshaal has firmly rejected the Trump administration’s proposed “Board of Peace” for Gaza, warning that the plan would impose an external trusteeship over the Palestinian people and undermine their sovereignty.

In a televised address discussing Gaza’s future, Meshaal said Hamas would “never accept any structure that replaces Palestinian national will with foreign oversight.” He stressed that Palestinians alone must determine their political destiny.

Meshaal revealed that Hamas has presented mediators with a comprehensive vision for the post-war period, including a proposal concerning the resistance’s weapons. He said Hamas seeks a long-term arrangement that prioritizes civilian life and prevents future wars, while ensuring that resistance weapons remain protected, undisplayed, and unused under a clear, mutually respected formula.

He added that the true source of danger is “the occupying entity, not Gaza,” describing efforts to forcibly disarm Palestinians as attempts to “drain their spirit.”

The Hamas leader highlighted that Gaza has endured “years of destruction, hunger, and siege,” and that the priority now is large-scale reconstruction. He said Hamas has conveyed to international mediators that rebuilding Gaza will require serious global commitment and funding.

On political governance, Meshaal recalled that before the war, Palestinian factions had reached broad consensus on forming a technocratic unity government, but progress was blocked by Israeli political vetoes. Recent discussions, including those held in Cairo, similarly evaluated candidates from across Palestinian society but were again hindered by occupation-imposed restrictions.

Meshaal reiterated the movement’s categorical rejection of the U.S.-backed “Board of Peace,” describing it as an attempt to undermine Palestinian decision-making: “Palestinians are governed by Palestinians. We alone determine our future.”

Meshaal emphasized that the Palestinian resistance continues to receive wide support from various nations, particularly Iran. However, he noted that Hamas does not belong to any geopolitical camp and remains open to all Arab and Islamic states. He acknowledged that some regional governments have distanced themselves from Hamas, affecting political balances, but said the movement remains committed to strengthening its ties across the region.

He also argued that Israel’s continued destruction of Gaza’s cities, coupled with its mass punishment policies over the past two years, has left it increasingly isolated and delegitimized globally. The Palestinian cause, he said, has “returned to the center of the regional agenda.”

Turning to the West Bank, Meshaal warned that the occupying regime is accelerating annexation measures, creating new risks for Palestinians. He said the Palestinian Authority faces a historic responsibility but has been politically weakened, its powers restricted, and reduced to a security apparatus role under occupation pressure.

Meshaal concluded by affirming that any imposed arrangements—such as the proposed “Board of Peace”—are unacceptable and that Gaza’s future must be determined solely by its people. (ILKHA)