Hamas has firmly denied reports suggesting it is willing to disarm as part of ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Israel, insisting on its “national and legal right” to resist Israeli occupation in Palestinian territories. The group’s response follows claims by United States President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, who, during a meeting with families of Israeli captives, allegedly stated that Hamas had expressed readiness to be demilitarized.
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According to Israeli news outlet Haaretz, a recording from the meeting implied that Hamas was prepared to lay down its arms. However, Hamas quickly issued a statement dismissing these assertions, emphasizing that as long as Israeli occupation endures, Palestinian resistance—including armed struggle—remains both a national duty and a legal right.
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Hamas further declared that relinquishing its weapons is not an option until the restoration of all Palestinian national rights, with the establishment of a fully sovereign and independent state, and Jerusalem as its capital, as the foremost demand. The group reiterated its stance in light of intensified pressure from both Israeli and international actors.
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Envoy Steve Witkoff’s meeting with Israeli hostage families in Tel Aviv came on the heels of his visit to a controversial US- and Israeli-backed aid distribution center in Gaza operated by the GHF. Hamas had previously condemned the envoy’s trip, labeling it a “staged show” intended to distort the public’s understanding of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the ongoing Israeli blockade has led to severe shortages and global outcry.
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The United Nations recently reported that more than 1,300 Palestinians have been killed while seeking food at GHF-run sites since the organization began operations in May. Despite mounting international criticism and calls for accountability, the Trump administration has continued its support for GHF, approving an additional $30 million in June for its operations in Gaza.
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Witkoff’s remarks on the possibility of Hamas disarmament coincide with renewed international momentum for the recognition of a Palestinian state, particularly amid disturbing scenes of starvation in Gaza. At a United Nations conference in New York, the United Kingdom announced it could soon follow France in formally recognizing a Palestinian state, contingent on Israel meeting conditions including a ceasefire.
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The conference saw broad support from 17 nations, the European Union, and the Arab League for a new seven-page document outlining steps to revive a two-state solution. The proposal urges Hamas to cede control of Gaza and surrender its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, supported by the international community, with the ultimate aim of establishing a sovereign Palestinian state.
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