The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, has categorically denied recent claims by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff suggesting the group is open to disarmament in exchange for political or humanitarian arrangements.
In an official statement published on its website, Hamas affirmed:
“Resistance and its weapons are a national and legal entitlement for as long as the occupation persists.”
The movement stressed that it will not surrender this right except upon the full restoration of Palestinian national rights, foremost among them, the establishment of a fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
U.S. Envoy’s Remarks Dismissed as Misinformation
The statement was made in response to media reports quoting Steve Witkoff following his recent visit to the region. The reports alleged that Hamas had expressed willingness to consider disarmament, a claim Hamas labelled as false and misleading, warning that such statements aim to manipulate public opinion and serve political agendas that align with the Israeli occupation.
Hamas reiterated that the right to resist, by all legitimate means, including armed struggle, is protected under international law, and that it cannot be abandoned while Israel continues its expansionist and violent policies against Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.
“False Promises”: Hamas Rejects Bargaining Over Its Arms
Israeli newspaper Haaretz had reported Witkoff as claiming that “Netanyahu is committed to ending the war and Hamas has agreed to disarm,” according to his words.
Witkoff further stated that a comprehensive prisoner exchange deal is the only path forward, asserting that both Israelis and Gazans are eager to end the war and begin rebuilding the devastated Strip.
He added, “If you have lost faith in the Israeli government—and I understand there are valid reasons—Donald Trump is on your side,” as quoted in Haaretz.
A family member of one of the Israeli captives, who attended a conversation with Witkoff, said the envoy claimed that the Trump administration is working on a new solution that would involve Arab states and reflect the full weight of U.S. power to bring the war to an end.
Hamas Responds Amid Escalating Siege and War Crimes
Hamas’s rejection of the U.S. claims comes at a critical moment, as Israel intensifies its military and economic blockade on Gaza, while the United States pushes for a new post-war security framework. Yet, with the deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, Hamas’s position remains firm: no political roadmap will be accepted unless it includes the complete lifting of the blockade, an end to the occupation, and the establishment of a Palestinian state.
This direct and unequivocal rejection is widely viewed as a clear message to the U.S. administration that no proposal excluding Palestinian sovereignty will be tolerated.
Resistance and Arms: A Core Principle Since 1987
Since its founding in 1987, Hamas has consistently upheld the view that armed resistance is an inalienable right of the Palestinian people against Israeli occupation. This stance is deeply rooted in the movement’s official doctrine and has remained unchanged despite repeated international and regional attempts to dismantle its armed wing or absorb it into Palestinian Authority security structures.
For Hamas, such proposals are viewed as strategic attempts to neutralise the resistance and weaken the Palestinian ability to confront continued occupation and aggression.
Today, the issue of arms remains one of the most contentious sticking points in any potential negotiations, with Hamas regarding it as the last line of defence for a people still denied basic political and humanitarian rights.
Genocide and Starvation: The Broader Context
Since the launch of Israel’s genocidal campaign on 7 October 2023, the occupation forces have committed parallel crimes of bombardment and deliberate starvation against Gaza’s population.
On 2 March 2024, Israel sealed all border crossings, blocking the entry of humanitarian, food, and medical aid. This has triggered a catastrophic famine, with indicators reaching emergency levels.
To date, the genocide in Gaza has left over 208,000 Palestinians killed or wounded, the vast majority of them women and children. More than 9,000 remain missing, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced, with starvation claiming additional lives daily.
