GAZA: Hamas said on Saturday (Aug 2) that it would not lay down arms unless an independent Palestinian state is established.
In a statement, the Palestinian militant faction said its “armed resistance … cannot be relinquished except through the full restoration of our national rights, foremost among them the establishment of an independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”
Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel aimed at securing a 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza war and a deal for the release of hostages ended last week in deadlock.
“PALESTINIAN STATE WITH JERUSALEM AS ITS CAPITAL”
On Tuesday, Qatar and Egypt, who are mediating ceasefire efforts, endorsed a declaration by France and Saudi Arabia outlining steps toward a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and saying that, as part of this, Hamas must hand over its arms to the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.
In its statement, Hamas, which has dominated Gaza since 2007 but has been militarily battered by Israel in the war, said it could not yield its right to “armed resistance” unless an “independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital” is established.
Israel considers the disarmament of Hamas a key condition for any deal to end the conflict, but Hamas has repeatedly said it is not willing to lay down its weaponry.
