Hamas Refuses to Disarm Without Palestinian Statehood, Deepening Rift in Gaza Peace Efforts
The Palestinian militant group Hamas has reiterated its stance that it will not disarm unless an independent Palestinian state is established with Jerusalem as its capital. This move comes as indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas aimed at securing a ceasefire and hostage release have stalled.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in significant humanitarian concerns, with the UN warning of man-made mass starvation in Gaza. Israel has insisted that there are no restrictions on aid deliveries, while Hamas accuses Israel of intentionally starving the population. The situation has worsened since the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.
US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has been visiting Israel to discuss the ongoing conflict. Witkoff met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and families of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. He emphasized the need to focus on ending the conflict and bringing home all hostages, rather than pursuing a partial deal.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with at least 1,373 Palestinians killed seeking food since late May, according to the UN. The majority of these deaths have occurred near Israeli and US-backed distribution sites, sparking accusations of Israeli military negligence. Israel maintains that its troops do not intentionally target civilians and blames Hamas for instigating chaos near aid sites.
Source:BBC News
