Amid the ongoing armed conflict in the Gaza Strip, the Hamas movement stated that it is not ready to lay down arms. According to the movement, disarmament will only be accepted once an independent and sovereign Palestinian state is established.
This statement is being seen as a direct response to Israel's main demand — Hamas' disarmament. In recent weeks, indirect negotiations mediated by Qatar and Egypt ended without success. These talks aimed to achieve a 60-day ceasefire and an agreement regarding hostages.
The two-state solution initiative proposed by France and Saudi Arabia was supported by Qatar and Egypt. According to this initiative, Hamas is expected to hand over its weapons to the Western-backed Palestinian Authority. However, Hamas rejected this demand. The movement's statement reads:
"Armed resistance is our natural right. We will only give up this right once a fully independent Palestinian state is established with Jerusalem as its capital."
Since 2007, Hamas has maintained political and military control over Gaza. However, after the October 7, 2023 attack, the movement suffered significant losses due to Israel's large-scale war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously stated that he rejects the establishment of a Palestinian state, claiming it poses a threat to Israel’s security. He also harshly criticized the recognition of Palestine by countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada, viewing the decision as a reward to Hamas.
As a result of the war that began after the October 7 events, more than 60,000 Palestinians have died. A large portion of Gaza's infrastructure has been destroyed, and millions of residents are facing a humanitarian crisis.
The failure of the recent negotiations highlights the deep disagreements between the parties, particularly regarding the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and control over security.
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