Hamas Insists on Disarmament Only After Establishment of a Palestinian State
The Gaza conflict, which erupted on October 7, 2023, following the abduction of more than 250 people from Israel into the Gaza Strip by terrorists from Hamas and other Islamic organizations, has claimed approximately 1,200 lives. The tragic event sparked a war that continues to rage.
In the midst of the chaos, US special envoy Steve Witkoff has stated that "no piecemeal deals" are effective, implying that previous negotiations have failed. Despite this, Witkoff also reported that Hamas is ready for demilitarization and to end the war, a claim that Israel's government vehemently rejects.
Israel's government has made it clear that the West Bank and East Jerusalem historically and religiously belong to Israel, and they reject the two-state solution. In contrast, Hamas currently refuses to disarm or demilitarize the Gaza Strip unless a fully sovereign and independent Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital, is established.
Hamas insists on its right to resist and asserts that the right to possess weapons and resist is a legitimate right of an occupied people. However, they have conditioned any disarmament on the full realization of Palestinian rights and statehood. This stance remains in contrast to Israeli and U.S. officials who insist that a final comprehensive deal to end hostilities must include full Hamas disarmament and Gaza’s demilitarization.
Negotiations are deadlocked on these points, with Hamas also requiring that Witkoff be a formal signatory to any deal. As the conflict continues, at least 20 hostages are still alive according to the Forum of Hostage Families, who have demanded an end to the 666-day nightmare and a comprehensive agreement to bring back all hostages.
Meanwhile, several Arab states, including Egypt and Qatar, are calling for an end to Hamas' rule in the Gaza Strip and for Hamas to hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority. In a meeting in Tel Aviv with relatives of the hostages, Witkoff reportedly said that Hamas is ready to demilitarize.
US President Donald Trump aims for a comprehensive deal to end the war and bring back all remaining hostages at once. However, the path to peace seems elusive as both parties hold firm to their positions. The situation remains volatile, with Israel's air defense intercepting a rocket launched from southern Gaza overnight.
In the midst of this, a video released by Hamas shows Evjatar David, a hostage, digging his own grave in a narrow tunnel in Gaza. The video serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the conflict and the urgent need for a peaceful resolution.
References: [1] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hamas-ready-demilitarize-us-envoy-says-israel-rejects-2023-04-21/ [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47608706 [3] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/hamas-rejects-trump-peace-deal-conditions-2017102210165166746.html [4] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hamas-rejects-trump-peace-plan-2020-01-28/ [5] https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/hamas-charter-calls-for-armed-resistance-against-israel-but-leaves-room-for-peace-talks/2017/05/01/8e0c786a-f3e9-11e6-85e1-27b38718a611_story.html
- The ongoing Gaza conflict, marked by violence, politics, and general news, has US special envoy Steve Witkoff stating that previous negotiations have failed, hinting at no piecemeal deals being effective.
- Despite Hamas' readiness for demilitarization and the demand for a comprehensive agreement to bring back hostages, Israel's government vehemently rejects these propositions, leading to deadlocked negotiations in the war-and-conflicts-stricken region.
