Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan sharply criticized Nikolay Mladenov, the representative involved in the Trump administration’s so-called mediation efforts, accusing him of acting as a mouthpiece for the Israeli occupation rather than a neutral facilitator.

In an interview with Al-Masirah TV, Hamdan stated that Mladenov’s approach fails to address core Palestinian demands and instead echoes Israeli positions, undermining any genuine prospects for a just agreement.

Hamdan outlined three fundamental issues blocking progress. First, the complete absence of any commitment to Palestinian rights, including the implementation of the initial phase of any agreement. Second, the refusal to compel Israel to meet its obligations or provide real, enforceable guarantees for compliance. Third, persistent attempts to narrow negotiations solely to the disarmament of Palestinian resistance factions — a red line that Hamas and other Palestinian groups firmly reject as it contradicts the national consensus.

“The proposal to focus only on disarming the resistance is unacceptable,” Hamdan emphasized, reaffirming that Palestinian factions have reached clear understandings to maintain unity and prevent Israel from isolating or separating different fronts of resistance.

He also dismissed Israeli and allied efforts to cut off Palestinians from broader Arab and Islamic support, noting that solidarity with the Palestinian cause continues to grow across the region. Hamdan praised the steadfast backing from resistance movements, highlighting the failure of isolation tactics.

In a separate statement, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem underscored the movement’s constructive position regarding Gaza’s future governance. Qassem revealed that accelerating the formation and deployment of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza was a key focus in recent Cairo talks.

“Hamas has reiterated its full readiness to transfer all governing responsibilities in Gaza — including security affairs — to the National Committee,” Qassem said. He added that the movement would provide every possible form of support to ensure the committee’s success, demonstrating Hamas’s commitment to Palestinian unity and alleviating the suffering of Gaza’s population under ongoing occupation and blockade.

These positions reflect Hamas’s consistent stance: prioritizing legitimate national rights, resisting coercive demands aimed at liquidating the resistance, and working toward genuine Palestinian sovereignty and reconstruction without compromising core principles. As Israel continues its aggression and illegal settlement expansion, Palestinian factions remain united in demanding justice, an end to the occupation, and respect for their inalienable rights. (ILKHA)