Hamas resists disarmament unless a Palestinian state is established
In recent developments, US envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly made remarks about Hamas's readiness for demilitarization during a meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel [1]. However, it is important to note that Hamas's stance on disarmament remains contingent upon the establishment of an independent Palestinian state [2].
Hamas, an Islamist group in Gaza, has rejected disarmament as a precondition for peace. This stance was reaffirmed in August 2025, with Hamas explicitly linking disarmament to the recognition and establishment of a Palestinian state as a precondition [1][2].
The boundaries of the Palestinian state, as per the 2017 Hamas charter, are the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem [3]. However, Hamas's charter does not acknowledge Israel's existence, and the group claims sovereignty over all historic Palestine, including present-day Israel [4].
Traditionally, Hamas has rejected the 1967 borders as a sole framework and insists on the right of return for Palestinian refugees, viewing Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Palestine [5]. This complicates acceptance of a conventional two-state solution based strictly on 1967 lines.
In contrast, Israel's government opposes a two-state solution, with its opposition based on historical and religious reasons regarding the West Bank and East Jerusalem [6]. The Israeli government believes the West Bank and East Jerusalem belong to it for these reasons.
In summary, as of August 2025, Hamas’s official current stance is that it will not disarm without the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. However, specific positions on 1967 borders, Jerusalem, and formal acceptance of the two-state solution have not been newly articulated or confirmed in the referenced latest statements [1][2][3].
References:
[1] Associated Press. (2025, August 1). US envoy discusses demilitarization with Hamas, Israeli officials say. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/01/us-envoy-discusses-demilitarization-with-hamas-israeli-officials-say
[2] Al-Jazeera. (2025, August 2). Hamas reaffirms stance on disarmament in peace talks. Al-Jazeera English. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/2/hamas-reaffirms-stance-on-disarmament-in-peace-talks
[3] Hamas. (2017). The Charter of Allah. Hamas. Retrieved from https://hamasinfo.ps/en/charter/
[4] Middle East Monitor. (2020, October 26). Hamas charter: What does it say about Israel? Middle East Monitor. Retrieved from https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201026-hamas-charter-what-does-it-say-about-israel/
[5] Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research. (2018). Palestinian public opinion poll No. 54. Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research. Retrieved from https://www.pcpsr.org/en/node/852
[6] Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (n.d.). The Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved from https://mfa.gov.il/mfa/foreignpolicy/peacemaking/guide/pages/the%20israeli-palestinian%20conflict.aspx
- The ongoing discussions on war-and-conflicts between Israel and Gaza, represented by Hamas, continue to be shaped by political discourse, as Hamas's stance on disarmament remains contingent upon the establishment of a Palestinian state.
- In the realm of general news, Hamas recently reaffirmed its stance on disarmament, linking it to the recognition and establishment of an independent Palestinian state, a move that complicates the conventional two-state solution based on the 1967 borders.
