Gaza Herald- Hamas has firmly denied allegations made by the United States’ special envoy to the Middle East, who claimed the group expressed willingness to disarm in return for a ceasefire in Gaza.
During a Saturday meeting in Tel Aviv with relatives of Israeli captives held in Gaza, envoy Steve Witkoff told families that Washington remained committed to brokering a unified hostage deal, according to Haaretz. In an audio recording from the meeting, Witkoff stated that “Hamas has said that they are prepared to be demilitarised,” and that “multiple Arab governments are now demanding Hamas disarm.” He also claimed, “We are very, very close to a solution to end this war,” adding that the US does not believe Hamas truly represents the Palestinian people or enjoys widespread support.
Hamas swiftly rejected Witkoff’s claims, stressing that it had not offered to disarm and reiterated its stance that resistance will continue until Palestinian national rights are achieved. The movement stated that “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.”
This exchange comes amid a breakdown in truce negotiations. The US and Israel withdrew from ongoing talks last week despite what mediators described as substantial progress toward a ceasefire.
According to The Times of Israel, sources close to the negotiations reported that Hamas had made it clear during talks in Doha that they would not return to the table unless immediate measures were taken to address Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and famine.
On Thursday, Hamas issued a statement declaring its readiness to re-enter negotiations “once aid reaches those in need and the humanitarian crisis and famine in Gaza are brought to an end.” Meanwhile, Israeli sources signaled the potential collapse of the framework for a phased agreement.
Reinforcing this stance, an Israeli senior official told reporters that “there will be no more partial deals,” suggesting a tougher position in the country’s approach to negotiations.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich echoed this sentiment at a far-right conference, stating that only the full disarmament and expulsion of Hamas, along with the return of all hostages, would constitute an acceptable agreement.
Together, these remarks point to a significant shift away from the phased ceasefire framework previously discussed, with both Israel and the United States now seemingly aligned in favor of a broader and more absolute deal.
