Hamas has rejected a disarmament framework proposed by Nickolay Mladenov, the US-appointed high representative for Gaza, accusing him of siding with Israel, a senior Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations has told the BBC. The group says it will not enter talks on the second phase of the ceasefire deal — which is meant to lead to a permanent end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal — until Israel completely fulfils the terms of phase one, including completing military withdrawals, reopening border crossings, and allowing adequate aid into the territory. The standoff deepens a deadlock that has persisted since US envoy Steve Witkoff declared the start of phase two in mid-January, with Israel in turn insisting it will not move forward without progress on Hamas disarmament.