Gaza Herald_ In response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s threats to forcibly disarm Hamas in Gaza, senior Hamas official Suhail al-Hindi affirmed that the weapons of the Palestinian resistance are inseparably linked to the ongoing Israeli occupation and constitute a unified national decision that will remain in place as long as occupation continues.
Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera Mubasher, al-Hindi dismissed Netanyahu’s remarks as part of a deceptive narrative aimed at portraying the Israeli military as “moral and humanitarian,” a claim he said stands in stark contrast to realities on the ground. Netanyahu had stated during a press conference on Tuesday that Israel was entering a new phase focused on disarming Hamas across the Gaza Strip “by easy means or hard ones.”
Al-Hindi stressed that the issue of arms cannot be separated from the political and military context of occupation, asserting that resistance weapons are a collective Palestinian choice made by the factions and the people alike. “As long as occupation exists on Palestinian land, resistance remains a necessity,” he said, adding that any remaining weapons serve primarily defensive purposes, especially in light of the lawlessness and criminal networks fostered by Israel inside Gaza.
He further clarified that such arms are intended for self-defense, not aggression, noting that basic defensive weapons exist in nearly every household due to ongoing insecurity and the absence of protection for civilians.
Commitment Without Concession
Addressing the ceasefire and prisoner exchange framework, al-Hindi reaffirmed Hamas’s full commitment to agreements reached with mediators, including the handover of the final Israeli soldier’s body, Ran Ghafili, and the provision of all available information. He emphasized that the resistance does not seek to retain bodies, recalling that Hamas has already released 20 Israeli soldiers and officers alive, in addition to returning 28 bodies, as part of its efforts to resolve the issue.
However, al-Hindi accused Israel of systematically violating the agreement, citing continued killings, the closure of border crossings, and the obstruction of humanitarian aid. According to his statements, 503 Palestinians have been killed and more than 325 wounded since the agreement was signed, underscoring what he described as Israel’s ongoing breach of its commitments.
Resistance Will Not Be Broken
Concluding his remarks, al-Hindi stressed that Hamas’s adherence to agreements should not be mistaken for weakness. “The Palestinian people will never raise the white flag,” he declared. “We are a dignified and resilient people who reject submission and will not bow to a criminal enemy.”
He reaffirmed that Palestinian steadfastness, resistance, and unity remain the cornerstone of confronting occupation, adding that no political pressure or military threats will succeed in stripping Palestinians of their legitimate right to defend themselves and seek freedom.
