i24NEWS Exclusive: Disagreement within the al-Qassam Brigades leadership regarding disarmament

Palestinian sources from within Hamas have revealed differences in positions and opinions among the leadership of the Qassam Brigades, the movement’s armed wing, regarding the political leadership’s decision to place weapons under centralized control as part of implementing the agreement reached between Hamas and the Board of Peace. Sources from within Hamas who spoke with i24NEWS say that the commander of the southern region, Mahmoud al-Barimm, who oversees the Khan Younis and Rafah brigades, considered, in a document he sent to the al-Qassam leadership and Hamas, that the process of inventorying weapons at this time would be unnecessary and would have major repercussions.

Al-Barim further noted there are serious concerns that Israel could later exploit this to carry out further major operations and assassinate all the leaders and active members of the organization.

The sources noted that al-Barim was not the only one in taking this position, getting support from Commander of the Northern Brigade Izz al-Din al-Beik, whom Israel attempted to kill about two months ago in an attack targeting an apartment in which he was present alongside Imad Islim, the commander of the Zeitoun Battalion and deputy commander of the Gaza Brigade. Al-Beik affirmed, in a summary of his stance regarding the current events, that Israel uses negotiations merely to identify new targets and carry out operations against them, and that the political leadership should not fall into this trap.

The sources indicated that Al-Beik, on the other hand, supports efforts to improve the humanitarian situation and achieve a complete cessation of the war, but does not support the decision to place weapons under centralized control. Instead, he has called for another solution, such as the possibility of reaching a truce agreement lasting more than 20 years.

Israel has often refused to reach an agreement with Hamas for a long-term truce that would freeze the use of weapons. It still insists on the complete disarmament of Hamas and the removal of its weapons from the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, the Board of Peace has conveyed assurances to Israel that the weapons will be melted down and will not remain inside the Strip in any form, even though they will be restricted to the hands of a technocratic committee.

The sources said that some other leaders, including Nafiz Subaih, the new commander of Al-Qassam, and Imad Aqel, one of the leaders of the old General Staff, most of whom were killed, support the process of restricting weapons in a way that preserves the human element within Hamas and al-Qassam and does not allow them to be pursued under any circumstances.

The sources indicated that despite all the ongoing agreements, Hamas and the leadership of al-Qassam believe that Israel will not accept what is happening. Therefore, some small-scale drills are being conducted, and new members are being recruited in preparation for any scenario that Israel might impose on the movement, including a return to war.