Hamas Has Said That It Won’t Disarm Until A Palestinian State Is Officially Established, Denying A US Claim
It issued its comments after US’ Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff visited Israeli hostages’ families and reportedly told them that Hamas had shown willingness to disarm.
Hamas has denied it agreed to disarm during ceasefire negotiations, saying it will not disarm until a full Palestinian state with Jerusalem as the capital is established.
It issued its comments after US’ Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff visited Israeli hostages’ families on Saturday, Aug. 2, and reportedly told them that Hamas had shown willingness to disarm.
Hamas said in response that “the resistance and its weapons are a national and legal right as long as the occupation persists”.
Witkoff had also gone to inspect the controversial US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution sites in Gaza following immense international pressure on Israel for starving Palestinians and killing them at the aid sites.
More than 1,568 Palestinians have been killed and 11,230 others injured, with aid distribution being turned into a “death trap,” according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Hours after Witkoff's visit, Israeli forces shot and killed three Palestinians near one of GHF's sites, according to Reuters.
Hamas criticized Witkoff’s visit in a statement, saying it is “nothing more than a premeditated play designed to mislead public opinion, polish the image of the occupation and provide it with political cover to orchestrate starvation and continue the systematic killing of defenseless children and civilians” in Gaza.
Hamas said that the US administration is a partner in the crime of starvation and genocide that is taking place in front of the entire world.
Israel and Hamas have been in indirect negotiations over a 60-day ceasefire proposal that would involve Hamas releasing 10 hostages.
However, Hamas had proposed its own “comprehensive agreement”, which includes the release of all captives held in Gaza in exchange for a permanent ceasefire, Israeli troops’ withdrawal and humanitarian aid access for Palestinians.
But Israel has rejected it as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government insist on continuing the genocide war in Gaza until “full victory” and dismantling Hamas.
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