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Hamas refuses to disarm without Palestinian statehood, widening rift in Gaza peace efforts
Hamas announced on Saturday that it would not surrender its weapons unless a sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital is established, firmly rejecting one of Israel's main preconditions to end the war in Gaza.
The statement comes after the latest round of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas collapsed without agreement. The negotiations, intended to broker a 60-day truce and facilitate the release of hostages, broke down last week.
Qatar and Egypt, who are mediating the dialogue, recently endorsed a declaration by France and Saudi Arabia calling for concrete steps toward a two-state solution. The declaration proposed that Hamas hand over its arms to the Palestinian Authority as part of the process.
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Responding to this, Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to 'armed resistance' and said it would only consider disarmament if Palestinians achieved full statehood and sovereignty. Hamas has governed Gaza since 2007 and has suffered significant military losses in the ongoing conflict, yet it remains unwilling to disband its armed wing.
Israel insists that any resolution must include Hamas' disarmament. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, arguing it would be used to launch attacks against Israel. Last month, he reiterated that Israel must maintain security control over Palestinian territories.
Netanyahu also criticised countries such as the UK and Canada for recognising Palestinian statehood in light of Israel's military campaign in Gaza, calling it a reward for what he views as Hamas' violent tactics.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a deadly incursion into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping 251 others. Since then, Israel's military operations have devastated Gaza, leaving over 60,000 Palestinians dead and worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis.
As the two sides continue to trade blame over the failed negotiations, major points of contention including Israel's military presence in Gaza remain unresolved.
Meanwhile, US envoy Steve Witkoff met anguished relatives of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza on Saturday, as fears for the captives' survival mounted almost 22 months into the war sparked by Hamas's October 2023 attack.
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Witkoff was greeted with some applause and pleas for assistance from hundreds of protesters gathered in Tel Aviv, before going into a closed meeting with the families.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum confirmed the meeting was underway and videos shared online showed Witkoff arriving as families chanted 'Bring them home!' and 'We need your help.'
The visit came one day after Witkoff visited a US-backed aid station in Gaza, to inspect efforts to get food into the devastated Palestinian territory.
With inputs from agencies
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