Hamas refuses to hand over his weapons: Only if an independent Palestinian state is formed

The militant group said it wassuing a “statement in response to media reports quoting US envoy Steve Whitoff, who claimed Hamas has shown willingness to disarm”.

He continued: “We reaffirm that its resistance and arms are a legitimate national and legal right as long as the invasion continues. ”

This right is recognised by international laws and norms and cannot be taken away from it except through the complete restoration of our national rights, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, completely sovereign with Jerusalem as the capital. ”

Hamas also condemned Witkoff's visit to a relief centre in Gaza as “nothing more than a imagined” show, writes Skynews.

It becomes known that Donald Trump's envoy for the Middle East, Witkoff, and Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, visited a centre run by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

Hamas said the trip was “designed to deceive public opinion, improve the image of the occupation and provide it with political coverage for the hunger campaign and the continued systematic murder of children and vulnerable civilians at the Gaza Strip”.

Witkoff said it passed “over five hours in Gaza”.

In an X post, he said: “The purpose of the visit was to give President Trump a clear understanding of the humanitarian situation and help draft a plan to offer food and medical assistance to the Gaza people”. /Periscope/