Gaza, Aug. 3— Hamas has reaffirmed its uncompromising stance that it will not lay down arms until a fully sovereign Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital, is established—rejecting a key Israeli condition for a ceasefire.
The statement came in response to recent remarks by former U.S. envoy to the Middle East, Jason Greenblatt (erroneously referred to as Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in some reports), who suggested that Hamas might be open to disarmament. Hamas dismissed this claim outright, reiterating its position that armed resistance will continue as long as Palestinian statehood remains unrealized.
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For Israel, Hamas’s disarmament is a central prerequisite for any lasting agreement. However, recent indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel—aimed at securing a ceasefire and releasing hostages—collapsed last week without resolution.
In recent days, several Arab states have reportedly urged Hamas to relinquish its weapons and relinquish control over Gaza. At the same time, momentum for international recognition of a Palestinian state is growing. Countries such as France and Canada have openly voiced plans to recognize Palestine, and the UK has indicated it may follow suit if Israel fails to meet certain conditions.
Despite being designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., UK, and the European Union, Hamas remains defiant. In its latest statement, the group declared: “Until a fully independent Palestinian state is established with Jerusalem as its capital, resistance will not end, and weapons will not be surrendered.”
Meanwhile, Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi warned on Friday that unless hostages are freed soon through negotiations, military operations in Gaza will continue unabated.
