ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson said on Thursday that Hamas’ disarmament has to be matched by Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza and other occupied areas, describing the two as “twin obligations” and saying that Israel’s compliance would have to be “watched.”
US President Donald Trump announced last week that an agreement for the “complete disarmament” of Hamas had been reached, calling it a critical step toward a new Palestinian government in Gaza.
Pakistan welcomed the announcement, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hoping that “concrete steps” will be taken toward implementing all commitments under the Gaza Peace Plan, including Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.
“You mentioned about the statement on the Board of Peace and disarmament or demobilization of Hamas. This is a twin obligation, I understand,” Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said during a weekly press briefing.
“So not just that Hamas has to disarm, but Israel has to vacate the occupied Gaza and territories surrounding
and basically, restore the status quo ante on Gaza.”
Andrabi said Israel’s responsibility in withdrawing from occupied areas in Palestine needs to be “watched,” of the state is to implement its obligations. So we look forward to earnest implementation of this decision, particularly from Israel.
Asked about Pakistan’s role in a future peacekeeping or peace enforcement force in Gaza, Andrabi said the question was premature and that a decision would be taken once a proposal was formally put to Islamabad.
Pakistan is a member of the Board of Peace, the body created under a UN Security Council resolution after the October 2025 ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. The body aims to oversee international stabilization and reconstruction in Gaza.
Hamas’ weapons have been among the main obstacles to implementing the ceasefire in place since October 2025. Hamas officials told AFP last week that a committee set up by the Board of Peace to govern Gaza would oversee the storage of its weapons.
Pakistan has consistently called on the international community to prevent Israeli military operations in Gaza and the West Bank. Islamabad supports an independent Palestinian state that is based on the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
