Gaza city: The Palestinian resistance group Hamas has declared it will not disarm until an independent and fully sovereign Palestinian state is established. This statement follows reports from the Israeli daily Haaretz, which cited a recording of US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff suggesting that Hamas had shown readiness to demilitarize.
According to Anadolu Agency, Witkoff was quoted as saying, "We are very, very close to a solution to end this war." However, Hamas has refuted these claims through a statement on Telegram, emphasizing that resistance and its weapons are a national and legitimate right as long as occupation persists. This right, Hamas insisted, is recognized by international laws and conventions and cannot be surrendered without achieving full national rights, namely the establishment of a fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Witkoff's visit to Tel Aviv included a meeting with families of Israeli hostages and coincided with a rally demanding a ceasefire deal for the release of captives held in the Gaza Strip. The visit came after footage released by Hamas and Islamic Jihad showing two Israeli captives, which sparked outrage.
Additionally, on Friday, Witkoff visited an aid center in southern Gaza managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The visit aimed to provide US President Donald Trump with insights into the humanitarian situation and to help develop a plan for delivering food and medical aid to Gaza's population.
The visit has been criticized for perceived US-Israeli coordination in Gaza, with Palestinians alleging that the aid distribution model acts as a tool for displacement and a 'death trap' for aid seekers, resulting in significant casualties.
Hamas has also criticized the visit as a 'propaganda stunt' to divert attention from global condemnation of Israel's policies, described by rights groups and UN officials as a systematic starvation campaign. The Health Ministry in Gaza reported that since October 7, 2023, at least 169 Palestinians, including 93 children, have died due to hunger-related causes.
The Israeli military has rejected international calls for a ceasefire, continuing its offensive on Gaza since October 7, 2023, resulting in over 60,000 Palestinian deaths, predominantly women and children. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice related to its actions in the enclave.