ALBAWABA - Reports say that Hamas is ready to give up its weapons, but the group has said that disarming will not be considered until a fully independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital has been established.
On Saturday, the statement came in reaction to comments said to have come from U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Wietcuff and were spread by Israeli media. These comments said the group had shown willingness to disarm.
Hamas says that having weapons is a "national and legal right."
As long as Israel occupies the Palestinian territories, Hamas said in its formal statement that armed resistance is both a national and legal right. It did this by quoting international agreements and laws.
The movement said, "We cannot give up our weapons until all of our national rights are restored. Most importantly, we demand the creation of a separate Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital."
How Wietcuff Got to See Gaza and Israel
Friday, Wietcuff went on a tour of a center in Rafah, southern Gaza, where food aid is distributed. He did this while under high security. He looked at the humanitarian situation and how relief was being delivered while global hunger watchers warned of an impending famine in the Gaza Strip.
The U.S. representative had met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the day before to try to restart peace talks that had been held up and to talk about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The uproar over Wietcuff's comments comes at a time when diplomacy attempts to end the war are still stuck. Hamas has said over and over that it will only agree to the full release of the hostages if the war ends, Israeli troops leave the area, and Palestinian prisoners are freed.
