Hamas leader's defiant stance: "We will never surrender our weapons"

Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, recently spoke out about the organization’s position in ongoing negotiations with Israel, emphasizing Hamas's commitment to maintaining its weapons and resisting disarmament. In his speech for Eid al-Fitr, al-Hayya declared that while Hamas has shown flexibility and willingness to engage in indirect negotiations with Israel, mediated by various countries, it will not surrender its arms or accept humiliation.

Al-Hayya outlined that Hamas had agreed to several mediator demands, such as ending what it calls "aggression," releasing security prisoners, and ensuring the preservation of Palestinian rights. He criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of undermining peace efforts by tying his government’s survival to the continuation of the conflict. Despite these challenges, al-Hayya noted that Hamas had responded positively to a new proposal from mediators, signaling the group’s commitment to a resolution but within the framework of its core principles, which include the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital and the right of return for Palestinian refugees.

The Hamas leader also commented on the post-conflict scenario, expressing support for an Egyptian initiative to establish a local committee for managing Gaza’s affairs. However, he was clear that Hamas would not agree to any Israeli presence in Gaza, nor would it relinquish its weapons. “We will not accept humiliation, exile, or disarmament,” he said, underlining Hamas’s stance that its resistance, as well as its control over its arms, are non-negotiable.

The speech highlighted both the complexities of the ongoing negotiations and Hamas's determination to uphold its principles, while leaving open the possibility for discussions to move forward in accordance with its terms.