A senior Hamas figure, Ghazi Hamad, has denied comments made by US envoy Steve Witkoff suggesting the terrorist organization was willing to disarm. Hamad, a member of Hamas' political bureau and part of its negotiating team, also claimed that international moves to recognize a Palestinian state were among the "achievements" of the October 7 massacre.
Speaking on Saturday evening, Hamad, who is based in Qatar, dismissed Witkoff's assertion that Hamas was open to giving up its weapons. "The weapons of the resistance are at the heart of the Palestinian issue, and there is national consensus to uphold them. We are committed to the resistance's arms and won't hand over even a single empty bullet," he said.
Hamad added that Hamas and other terrorist groups would retain their weapons "as long as the occupation continues", referring to the existence of the State of Israel.
He also criticized Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for suggesting that a future Palestinian state would be demilitarized. "The remarks by President Abbas about a demilitarized Palestinian state are shameful and unworthy of our people's sacrifices," Hamad said.
His comments followed a visit Witkoff to Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, where he met with families of those kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 massacre. Witkoff told the families, "Hamas is ready to disarm, but we need to verify they are actually doing so." He added that several Arab governments were now demanding that Hamas relinquish its weapons, a development he said brought the prospect of ending the war "very, very close."
