Summary
- Hamas says it will not disarm unless an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital is established.
- The statement follows failed indirect ceasefire talks with Israel on a truce and hostage release.
- Hamas rejects demands from the U.S., Israel, and Arab and Western states to give up arms and let the Palestinian Authority govern Gaza.
- The statement responds to U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff’s claim Hamas was willing to disarm, which Hamas denies.
- Hamas says armed resistance is a legal right until Palestinian national rights, including statehood, are restored.
- Israel sees Hamas disarmament as vital to ending the Gaza conflict; Netanyahu warns a Palestinian state could threaten Israel’s security.
- The statement comes amid growing global support for Palestinian statehood and calls for Hamas to hand over weapons to the Palestinian Authority.
- Heavy fighting and a humanitarian crisis continue in Gaza, with Israeli strikes killing 18 people and over 60,000 Palestinians dead since October 2023.
In a new statement issued on Saturday, August 2, 2025, Hamas declared it will not disarm unless an independent Palestinian state is established with Jerusalem as its capital, sharply responding to calls from the international community for the group to hand over its weapons and allow the Palestinian Authority to take control of the Gaza Strip.
What Did Hamas Say About Disarmament and Statehood?
As reported by Reuters, Hamas stated, “Our armed resistance ... can only be abandoned through the complete restoration of our national rights, primarily the creation of an independent and fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem designated as its capital”. The group reaffirmed that resistance and its armed capabilities are a “legitimate national and legal right as long as the occupation continues,” and would not be given up “except through the full restoration of our national rights – first and foremost, the establishment of an independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital,” as cited by Sky News.
In its official communication, Hamas directly refuted recent statements made by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who claimed the group was ready to consider disarmament, calling such reports “false”. Hamas used the opportunity to reiterate its position and highlight what it describes as “continued systematic killing of defenceless children and civilians in the Gaza Strip.”
Why Did This Statement Come Now?
The statement came amid intense indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel, seeking a 60-day ceasefire and a deal for hostage releases. Those talks have recently ended in deadlock, with significant gaps remaining over Israeli military withdrawal and the handover of weapons by Hamas.
The refusal also follows a declaration signed by seventeen nations, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada, at a high-level conference at the United Nations, demanding that Hamas end its rule in Gaza and transfer governance and arms to the Palestinian Authority. French and Saudi-backed arrangements called for a two-state solution with international oversight, involving Hamas’s disarmament, which has drawn sharp criticism from the group.
How Has Hamas Framed Its Position on Armed Resistance?
According to Israel National News, Hamas maintains that “resistance and its weapons” are a national and legal entitlement under international law and insists it would not give up its arms while the “occupation persists”. The group also described the recognition of Palestinian statehood as “the fruit of our people’s ongoing struggle.”
Speaking through their official channels and on Telegram, as reported by Al Jazeera and Aawsat, Hamas stated, “The movement emphasized that disarmament will not be considered unless the full rights of the Palestinian people are restored, chief among them the establishment of a fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital”.
What Is the Broader International Context?
As detailed by The Times of Israel and The New York Times, the latest pressure on Hamas to disarm comes as Arab and Western states back renewed pushes for a two-state solution. The joint declaration from the conference stated:
“In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international engagement and support, in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State”.
Countries including Canada have announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state, contingent upon governance reforms and excluding Hamas from future government. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, have criticized these moves, warning they could “reward Hamas’ conduct” and threaten Israeli security.
How Has Israel Responded?
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that the disarmament of Hamas is a “key condition” for any resolution of the Gaza conflict. He told Newsmax and Israel National News that “any future independent Palestinian state” could be used to threaten Israel, arguing that Israeli security control over Palestinian territories must remain. Netanyahu has also condemned plans by other countries to recognize a Palestinian state as undermining efforts to defeat Hamas and achieve lasting peace.
What Are the Ongoing Humanitarian Concerns?
As reported by Sky News and Al Jazeera, the statement from Hamas comes amid continued fighting and a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. On Saturday, Israeli forces reportedly killed 18 people, including several near food distribution centers, with the overall death toll since October 2023 exceeding 60,000, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. The United Nations’ human rights office reports more than 859 civilian deaths near Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites since late May.
The latest hostilities began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched an attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. About 50 hostages remain, with many believed to be alive.
How Did Hamas React to U.S. and International Diplomatic Moves?
According to Sky News, Hamas denounced Steve Witkoff’s visit to an aid distribution center as “nothing more than a premeditated staged show,” accusing it of seeking to “mislead public opinion, polish the image of the occupation, and provide it with political cover for its starvation campaign and continued systematic killing of defenceless children and civilians in the Gaza Strip”.
Witkoff said the purpose of his five-hour Gaza visit was to “give President Trump a clear understanding of the humanitarian situation and help craft a plan to deliver food and medical aid to the people of Gaza.”
What’s Next for the Gaza Conflict and the Prospect of Palestinian Statehood?
Indirect negotiations remain stalled, with the key sticking points being the disarmament of Hamas and the extent of a potential Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza. The United States, members of the European Union, and several Arab states see the disarmament of Hamas as essential for any move toward a two-state solution and ending the war.
Hamas’s latest statement underscores that the group is standing firm, only prepared to lay down arms if a fully sovereign Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital, is established. This stance signals ongoing challenges for diplomats and mediators hoping to bridge the enormous gaps between the warring sides.