Hamas told Al Jazeera that it was unwilling and it would be "completely unacceptable" to lay down arms, Al Jazeera reported on Monday.
"Hamas informed Egypt that the gateway to any agreement is a cessation of hostilities and withdrawal, not disarmament of the resistance," Al Jazeera reported.
The Hamas representative also told the Qatari outlet that the latest proposal involves the handover of living and dead hostages over the course of 45 days to extend the ceasefire and allow more aid into the Gaza Strip.
Egypt has reportedly submitted a hostage ceasefire proposal to Hamas, which includes the release of approximately eight hostages in exchange for a ceasefire lasting "between 40 to 70 days," Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported on Monday, citing an Egyptian source familiar with the details.
Israel is now pushing for the release of 10 hostages, The Jerusalem Post previously reported.
What is the Egyptian proposal?
A senior Hamas member recently told Al Jazeera that Egypt’s ceasefire proposal suggests releasing half of the hostages during the first week of the agreement. This would be in exchange for a temporary 45-day ceasefire and the entry of humanitarian aid, including food and shelter, into the Gaza Strip.
Under the proposal, the remaining living hostages and casualties would be released throughout the 45-day period. The senior Hamas official also expressed surprise at the inclusion of the clause about the "dismantling of resistance weapons."
Egypt reportedly told the Hamas delegation that there would be no deal unless negotiations were held to disarm the Gaza-based terror groups.
The official stressed that Hamas informed Egypt that any agreement must begin with a cessation of hostilities and withdrawal from Gaza. Hamas vehemently opposes any discussion on the weapons of terror organizations, asserting that the right to maintain “resistance weapons” is non-negotiable and forms an integral part of Palestinian rights.