By M10News International Desk|2 August 2025 – Gaza City
Hamas has firmly rejected suggestions that it is prepared to disarm, stating that it will only consider laying down arms upon the full establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
In a statement issued late Monday, the militant group described recent media reports—claiming it had shown a willingness to give up its weapons—as “inaccurate and misleading”.
The reports had cited remarks by US envoy Steve Witkoff following his visit to the Gaza Strip, where he said there were signs Hamas might consider disarmament under the right conditions.
“We reaffirm that resistance and its arms are a legitimate national and legal right as long as the occupation continues,” the Hamas statement read.
“This right is recognised by international laws and norms, and it cannot be relinquished except through the full restoration of our national rights—first and foremost, the establishment of an independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”
Hamas accused Witkoff of distorting the group’s position, and dismissed his visit to a humanitarian aid centre in Gaza as a “staged public relations stunt”.
The statement also denounced the presence of US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee at the site, describing the visit as an effort “to polish the image of the occupation and provide political cover for a campaign of starvation and systematic killings in Gaza”.
Witkoff, who has been tasked by US President Donald Trump with evaluating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as part of his re-election platform, spent over five hours touring the region on Friday.
He said the purpose of the visit was to assess humanitarian conditions and help shape a plan for delivering food and medical supplies.
In a post on social media platform X, Witkoff said, “President Trump wants to ensure humanitarian assistance reaches civilians.
This visit will guide our proposed solutions.” He did not comment on Hamas’ statement or claims about the nature of his trip.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which hosted the American delegation, has come under scrutiny in recent months.
Though backed by both US and Israeli officials, the organisation has faced criticism over alleged mismanagement and its role in aid distribution zones where violence has repeatedly erupted.
On Saturday, Gaza’s health ministry reported that 18 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire near a food distribution point, including eight people who were reportedly attempting to access food aid.
A local resident, Yahia Youssef, told Reuters that he helped carry three injured individuals to safety and saw others lying wounded on the ground.
In response, GHF denied any incident had occurred at or near its sites, calling the reports “unverified and unrelated to our operations”.
However, the United Nations’ human rights office has documented at least 859 deaths in the vicinity of GHF aid points since late May, though it did not attribute responsibility for the killings.
The latest tensions come amid a devastating conflict that has raged since 7 October 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise assault on Israel, killing around 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and abducting 251 others. Israel has since carried out a prolonged retaliatory military campaign in Gaza.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, Israel’s offensive has resulted in the deaths of over 60,000 Palestinians. The figure includes both combatants and civilians, but the ministry does not separate the numbers.
Hamas continues to hold approximately 50 Israeli hostages, with at least 20 believed to still be alive.
Most of the others were freed during brief ceasefires or exchanged in negotiated deals.
Despite international calls for a long-term ceasefire and a diplomatic resolution, efforts to end the conflict have largely stalled.
Israel has repeatedly stated that it will not negotiate under conditions set by Hamas, and insists that the disarmament of militant groups must precede any meaningful political progress.
The latest declaration by Hamas underscores the group’s insistence on maintaining armed resistance as a negotiating tool—a stance that complicates international mediation efforts and raises further questions about the prospects for peace in the region.
Editing by M10News International Desk | Contact: info@m10news.com | © 2025 M10News.
