Israel Hamas rejects disarmament without a Palestinian state
The Islamist Hamas in the embattled Gaza Strip firmly rejects laying down its arms as long as no independent Palestinian state is established.
03.08.2025, 02:00
SDA
The armed resistance can only be given up if the rights of the Palestinians are fully realized, in particular the establishment of an independent and fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, according to a statement by the Islamist terrorist organization.
Hamas was reacting to statements made by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who according to media reports said at a meeting with relatives of the hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip that Hamas was ready for demilitarization. "We are close to the end of this war," Witkoff said at the meeting in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, according to a statement from the Forum of Hostage Families. "We have a plan to end the war and bring everyone home."
Hamas claims the whole of historic Palestine - including the current territory of Israel. In a 2017 policy paper, however, it accepts a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders - i.e. consisting of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. It does not recognize Israel's right to exist. Israel's government is also opposed to a two-state solution. The prevailing view there is that the West Bank and East Jerusalem belong to Israel for historical and religious reasons.
