Hamas has categorically rejected international demands to disarm, asserting that relinquishing weapons would surrender Palestinians’ sole defense against Israeli occupation until full sovereignty is established. In a Saturday statement, the group emphasized that “armed resistance” remains non-negotiable without an “independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital”. This rebuffs a French-Saudi declaration, endorsed by Egypt and Qatar calling for Hamas to transfer arms to the Palestinian Authority (PA), which Hamas dismisses as a “subcontractor for Israeli security” lacking democratic legitimacy since 2007.
The deadlock follows collapsed negotiations for a 60-day ceasefire and hostage exchange, with Hamas blaming Israel’s refusal to commit to Palestinian statehood or full Gaza withdrawal. While mediators proposed a three-phase peace roadmap, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has openly rejected Palestinian sovereignty, calling it an “existential platform to destroy Israel” and insisting on perpetual Israeli security control. His cabinet includes far-right ministers advocating annexation of Gaza and the West Bank, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declaring settlements “closer than ever”.
Hamas’s stance unfolds amid Israel’s engineered famine, which has killed 154 Palestinians, including 89 children from starvation since October. UN agencies confirm Israel blocks 60% of aid shipments despite ceasefire obligations, while the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) militarizes distribution, with Israeli snipers killing 1,373 aid-seekers since May. Over 500,000 Gazans now face “catastrophic hunger,” with hospitals documenting infants “without muscle tissue, just skin over bone”.
Hamas notes Western hypocrisy: the U.S. and EU arm Israel while demanding Hamas disarm amid genocide. Though the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant for war crimes, the U.S. vetoes ceasefire resolutions and funds Israel’s siege. Meanwhile, leaked IDF orders confirm a policy to “prevent life sustenance” in Gaza, including bombing water pipelines and bakeries. Hamas frames resistance as the only response to such annihilation, citing Gaza’s destruction of 92% of homes and 84% of health facilities.
Global recognition of Palestinian statehood grows as the UK, France, Malta, and others prepare September announcements, with 145 UN members now acknowledging Palestine. Hamas welcomes this as “political, legal, and ethical restitution” while urging tangible pressure on Israel to end apartheid. With 63% of Germans and 71% of global citizens supporting sanctions on Israel, Hamas positions its resistance as aligned with international law’s allowance for armed struggle against occupation.