Hamas on Saturday firmly rejected claims it has agreed to disarm as a part of the continued ceasefire negotiations with Israel, asserting its “nationwide and authorized” proper to withstand what it calls the “Israeli occupation.” The denial, reported by Al Jazeera, was issued in response to remarks allegedly made by US President Donald Trump’s particular envoy to the Center East, Steve Witkoff.Also Read | Middle East crisis: Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; ceasefire on agenda In line with Israeli each day Haaretz, a recording of Witkoff’s assembly with households of Israeli hostages held in Gaza revealed he advised them Hamas was “ready to be demilitarised.” The Palestinian militant group swiftly dismissed the declare.“The resistance and its weapons are a nationwide and authorized proper so long as the [Israeli] occupation persists,” it mentioned in an announcement. “This proper can’t be relinquished till our full nationwide rights are restored—foremost amongst them, the institution of a totally sovereign, impartial Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”Witkoff’s alleged feedback got here throughout a go to to Israel’s Tel Aviv, the place he met with the hostage households, following a visit to an help distribution website in Gaza run by the American- and Israeli-backed World Humanitarian Basis (GHF). Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, condemned his go to as to the enclave as a “staged present” geared toward deflecting consideration from the deepening humanitarian disaster. Citing a United Nations report, the group accused GHF of failing to make sure civilian security, alleging that over 1,300 Palestinians have been killed whereas trying to entry meals from GHF-operated websites since Could. Regardless of mounting worldwide criticism, the USA final month introduced an extra $30 million in funding for the organisation.Witkoff’s reported remarks additionally come as worldwide momentum grows towards recognising Palestinian statehood. The UK has introduced it might comply with France in formally recognising a Palestinian state in September, ought to Israel not comply with a ceasefire. At a latest UN convention in New York, Brtitsh overseas secretary David Lammy reaffirmed Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s place, noting that recognition can be conditional. The convention concluded with 17 nations, the European Union, and the Arab League backing a two-state answer. Their joint assertion referred to as on Hamas to cede management of Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, beneath worldwide oversight.
