The Palestinian group issued a press release on Saturday in response to feedback allegedly made by United States President Donald Trump’s particular envoy to the Center East, Steve Witkoff, throughout a gathering with family of Israeli captives held in Gaza.
Citing a recording of the dialog, Israeli outlet Haaretz reported that the US envoy informed the households Hamas was “ready to be demilitarised.” Nonetheless, Hamas firmly denied the declare.
In its assertion, Hamas mentioned, “The resistance and its weapons are a nationwide and authorized proper so long as the [Israeli] occupation persists.” It added that this proper “can’t be relinquished till our full nationwide rights are restored, foremost amongst them the institution of a completely sovereign, unbiased Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital,” in line with Al Jazeera.
Witkoff had met the households in Tel Aviv on Saturday, a day after visiting a US and Israeli-backed support distribution website in Gaza run by the controversial GHF group. Hamas beforehand criticised the envoy’s go to as a “staged present” meant to mislead the general public about circumstances within the enclave, Al Jazeera reported.
The group pointed to worsening humanitarian circumstances, highlighting a United Nations report stating that greater than 1,300 Palestinians have been killed whereas making an attempt to entry meals at GHF-run websites for the reason that organisation started working in Gaza in Could.
Regardless of rising worldwide criticism of the group’s operations, the Trump administration has stood firmly behind GHF. In June, Washington introduced $30 million in funding help for the organisation, Al Jazeera reported.
Witkoff’s remarks on disarmament come amid intensifying world efforts to push for recognition of a Palestinian state, because the humanitarian disaster in Gaza continues. At a two-day United Nations convention in New York this week, the UK mentioned it might observe France in recognising a Palestinian state in September if Israel doesn’t implement a ceasefire.
Echoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s earlier stance, International Secretary David Lammy mentioned the UK would proceed with recognition below particular circumstances. The UN assembly additionally noticed 17 nations, together with the European Union and the Arab League, endorse a seven-page doc supporting a two-state answer.
The textual content referred to as on Hamas to “finish its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with worldwide engagement and help, according to the target of a sovereign and unbiased Palestinian State,” Al Jazeera reported.