DaysofPal – Hamas announced on Saturday that it is prepared to hand over its weapons in the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority, but only on the condition that the Israeli occupation comes to an end.
“Our weapons are linked to the existence of the occupation and the aggression,” said Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas chief negotiator and head of the movement in Gaza.
“If the occupation ends, these weapons will be placed under the authority of the state.” Hayya clarified that he was referring to a sovereign and independent Palestinian state.
Addressing the potential involvement of international forces, Hayya emphasized that Hamas would accept the deployment of UN forces solely as a separation and monitoring presence along the borders, tasked with ensuring compliance with the ceasefire.
He firmly rejected any proposal for an international mission whose mandate would include disarming Hamas.
The declaration comes amid continuing violations of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, which took effect on October 10. Israeli airstrikes, shelling, and the demolition of civilian homes persist across multiple areas in the Gaza Strip, according to local reports.
At least 372 Palestinians have died since the ceasefire was implemented, the majority of whom were women, children, and the elderly, and over 920 more have been injured.
Medical sources report that the total death toll from Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7, 2023, has reached 70,354, the vast majority of whom are women and children. More than 171,000 people have been wounded, and a number of victims remain trapped under rubble, inaccessible to rescue teams.
In the last 24 hours alone, hospitals in Gaza received the bodies of six martyrs, one recently killed and five recovered from the debris, along with 15 wounded individuals. Since the ceasefire agreement on October 11, the death toll stands at 367, with 953 injured.
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