The Palestinian Islamist organization "Hamas" has said it will not disarm unless an independent Palestinian state is established, thus again rejecting a key Israeli demand to end the war in Gaza, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Indirect talks between "Hamas" and Israel, aimed at securing a 60-day ceasefire in the war in Gaza and an agreement on the release of hostages, reached an impasse last week. On Tuesday, Qatar and Egypt, which are mediating the truce efforts, backed a declaration by France and Saudi Arabia outlining steps towards a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and saying that as part of this "Hamas" must hand over its weapons to the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.
In its statement, the group, which has ruled Gaza since 2007 but was defeated by Israel in the war, said it could not give up its right to "armed resistance" unless an "independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital" was established. Israel considers the disarmament of "Hamas" a key condition for any agreement to end the conflict, but the group has repeatedly said it is not ready to lay down its arms.
Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that any future independent Palestinian state would serve as a platform for the destruction of Israel. For this reason, control over the security of the Palestinian territories should remain in Israel's hands, the prime minister believes.
He also criticized several countries, including Britain and Canada, for announcing plans to recognize a Palestinian state. According to Netanyahu, this would be a reward for the actions of "Hamas".
Israel launched its military operation in the Gaza Strip after "Hamas" fighters carried out an unprecedented attack on the Jewish state on October 7, 2023.