Hamas insists on the disarmament only after establishing a Palestinian state
In the ongoing Gaza conflict, negotiations for a new ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages remain stalled as of early August 2025. This deadlock, despite mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, has not resulted in a breakthrough towards a comprehensive deal to end the Gaza War [source 1].
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening due to Israeli restrictions on aid, with severe malnutrition and famine risks escalating, particularly affecting children. This urgent situation coincides with the stalemate in negotiations, underscoring the need for a resolution.
Israel's far-right police minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has called for the reoccupation of the Gaza Strip and encourages voluntary emigration of the Palestinian population. Contrarily, Hamas, the Islamist group controlling the Gaza Strip, rejects disarming until there is an independent Palestinian state [source 2].
Hamas claims the entire historic Palestine, including today's state of Israel. However, Israel's West Bank and East Jerusalem are historically and religiously claimed by Israel. The Temple Mount (Al-Haram al-Scharif), the third holiest site in Islam and the holiest site for Jews, is at the centre of this contested territory.
The conflict was triggered on October 7, 2023, when terrorists from Hamas and other Islamist organisations kidnapped more than 250 people from Israel into the Gaza Strip, leading to the outbreak of the Gaza War. As of now, at least 20 of the hostages are believed to still be alive.
The US government is reportedly seeking a comprehensive deal that ends the war and returns all remaining hostages at once, rather than negotiating for a ceasefire and gradual hostage release as before. This approach is echoed by the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who has called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, the disarmament of Hamas, and the end of its rule in the Gaza Strip.
Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy, stated, "No piecemeal deals. That doesn't work." Yet, Hamas appears ready for demilitarization, with Witkoff stating that they are on the brink of ending the war. Hamas accepts a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, consisting of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem.
International calls, including from the UN and the League of Arab States, underscore the critical humanitarian crisis and the need for a political solution. For the first time, the League of Arab States formally called on Hamas to release hostages and disarm. However, no agreement has been finalized yet.
Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas met with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in Ramallah, with Wadephul supporting the right of Palestinians to their own state at the end of a political process. Several Arab states, including Egypt and Qatar, have also called for an end to Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip as part of ending the war, and for Hamas to hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority with international engagement and support.
A propaganda video by Hamas shows Evyatar David, a hostage, digging his own grave in a narrow tunnel in Gaza, emaciated to the bone. This harrowing image serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of this ongoing conflict and the urgent need for a resolution.
References: - [source 1]: [Insert link to the source] - [Insert links to other sources as necessary]
- In light of the critical humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the ongoing stalemate in negotiations, US special envoy Steve Witkoff advocates for a comprehensive deal that ends the war, returns all remaining hostages, and addresses the disarmament of Hamas.
- The League of Arab States, international organizations, and several Arab states, including Egypt and Qatar, have collectively called for an end to Hamas's rule in the Gaza Strip, the release of hostages, and disarmament, recognizing the need for a political solution in the midst of war-and-conflicts and general-news.
