In response to Witkoff’s claims, Hamas issued a categorical denial, stating that it has no intention of disarming.
US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff told the families of Israeli prisoners held in Gaza that the Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas is prepared to disarm — a claim the group has strongly denied.
According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Witkoff made the comments during a meeting with families of Israeli captives at Tel Aviv’s ‘Hostage Square’ on Saturday.
Witkoff allegedly told the families that Hamas is ready to give up its weapons, “but we must ensure that they actually do so.” He also reportedly claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — who faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court — is committed to ending the war.
Witkoff added that several Arab governments are now demanding Hamas disarm, describing the situation as “very close to a solution that could end the war.”
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Israel’s Channel 12 further reported that Witkoff informed the families that Washington is pursuing a comprehensive deal to secure the return of all Israeli captives from Gaza, rather than negotiating partial or phased agreements.
Israeli authorities estimate that 50 captives remain in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Meanwhile, over 10,800 Palestinians are being held in Israeli prisons under harsh conditions, including reports of torture, starvation, and medical neglect, with several deaths reported, according to Palestinian and Israeli rights groups.
Hamas Responds
In response to Witkoff’s claims, Hamas issued a categorical denial, stating that it has no intention of disarming.
“The resistance and its weapons are a national and legal right so long as the occupation persists,” the group said in a statement, citing international law. Hamas emphasized that such rights cannot be relinquished “until the full restoration of Palestinian national rights — above all, the establishment of a fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”
In a separate statement, Hamas condemned Witkoff’s visit on Friday to an aid distribution site in Gaza, calling it a “premeditated farce” designed to mislead public opinion and provide a political cover for Israel’s starvation policy.
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“The goal of the visit was to polish the image of the occupation and justify its crimes,” the group said, adding that Witkoff’s portrayal of aid delivery as peaceful is contradicted by the deaths of more than 1,300 Palestinians seeking food.
Hamas concluded by accusing the US administration of being “a full partner in the crime of starvation and genocide taking place in Gaza, in full view of the world.”
(PC, AJA)
Witkoff fears trump who recently fired an official for giving a true report of the state of the usa economy.. He also serves the usa evangelical hypocrites who form trump’s base… As we say here in the West, ” they have been lying so long, they don’t know what the truth is anymore “… As for some of the Arab leaders, Hamas should point out that the oil wealth belongs to the Muslim Ummah, not to a few privileged families who call themselves ” royal ” but are nothing of the sort!