A senior Hamas leader has told Reuters that the group intends to retain security control in Gaza during any interim arrangement, and stopped short of committing to disarmament — a stance that highlights the challenges facing US efforts to bring an end to the ongoing conflict.

Hamas politburo member Mohammed Nazzal also said the group was ready for a ceasefire of up to five years to rebuild devastated Gaza, with guarantees for what happens afterwards depending on Palestinians being given “horizons and hope” for statehood.

Speaking to Reuters in an interview from Doha, where Hamas politicians have long resided, Nazzal defended the group’s crackdown in Gaza, where it carried out public executions on Monday. There were always “exceptional measures” during war and those executed were crimin

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