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Hamas has declared it will not surrender its weapons unless a fully independent and sovereign Palestinian state is established. The statement was issued on Saturday in response to reports suggesting the group was prepared to disarm.
The claim stemmed from a report by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which cited audio said to be of US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. In the recording, Witkoff allegedly says, “Hamas has said that they are prepared to be demilitarised,” adding, “We are very, very close to a solution to end this war.”
In response, Hamas posted a message on Telegram dismissing the claims and reaffirming its stance. “We stress that resistance and its arms are a legitimate and national right as long as the occupation persists—this right is upheld by international law and conventions,” the statement read. The group insisted such rights would only be relinquished if Palestinians achieve their full national aspirations, specifically the creation of an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Witkoff visited Tel Aviv on Saturday, where he met with families of Israeli hostages. The visit coincided with demonstrations calling for a ceasefire deal to secure the release of captives held in Gaza. It marked Witkoff’s third appearance at Hostage Square since the conflict began.
The visit followed the release of video footage by Hamas and Islamic Jihad showing two visibly frail Israeli hostages, Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski. The images provoked widespread anger and renewed pressure on Israeli and international negotiators.
On Friday, Witkoff also toured a humanitarian aid centre operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in southern Gaza. He stated that the purpose of the visit was to provide US President Donald Trump with an accurate view of the humanitarian crisis and help devise a plan for delivering essential supplies.
However, the trip has drawn sharp criticism, especially from Palestinian groups, who argue that the GHF’s aid delivery model contributes to the displacement of Palestinians. They claim the initiative is being used to mask a deeper strategy of forced relocation, with some describing it as a “death trap” for those queueing for help—more than 1,300 Palestinians have reportedly died waiting for aid since May.
Hamas denounced Witkoff’s visit as a “propaganda stunt” designed to distract from international condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza. Human rights organisations and UN officials have accused Israel of engaging in a deliberate policy of starvation.
Since the recent Israeli destructions began after October 7, 2023, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that at least 169 people, including 93 children, have died from hunger-related causes. Meanwhile, the Israeli military campaign has killed over 60,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to credible figures from local health authorities.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Additionally, Israel is currently facing genocide proceedings at the International Court of Justice over its ongoing actions in Gaza.
