Hamas rejects Israel’s demand for ‘full demilitarization’ of Gaza, says disarming 'a red line'
The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has rejected Israel’s demand for the complete demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said disarming was a “red line” for all resistance groups in the besieged territory.
The Hamas official made the remarks in a statement on Tuesday, shortly after Israel said its condition to move on to the second stage of the January ceasefire deal is the “full demilitarization” of Gaza.
“Any talk about the resistance’s weapons is nonsense. The resistance’s weapons are a red line for Hamas and all resistance factions,” Zuhri said.
Speaking at a press conference earlier in the day, Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar demanded a total demilitarization of Gaza and the return of captives as a condition to proceed to the second stage of the ceasefire deal.
“We don't have an agreement on phase two,” Sa'ar said during a press briefing. “We demand total demilitarization of Gaza, (and) Hamas and Islamic Jihad out and give us our hostages.”
If Hamas agreed to these demands, “we can implement (the deal) tomorrow,” he added.
Hamas has already said any further release of Israeli captives will only be possible after the two sides engage in the second phase of Gaza ceasefire negotiations.
Also on March 1, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem rejected Israel’s proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire, calling on the international community to pressure Tel Aviv to proceed to the second phase as originally planned.
Israel launched its campaign of genocide in the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, after Hamas carried out a historic operation against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.
The regime failed to achieve its declared objectives of freeing captives and eliminating Hamas despite killing more than 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in Gaza.
Israel accepted Hamas’ longstanding negotiation terms under the truce, which began on January 19.
The three-phase ceasefire agreement called for the two sides to hold indirect talks to hammer out the details of further exchanges.
It was planned that during negotiations on the second phase a permanent ceasefire would be established and Israeli forces would make a complete withdrawal as the remaining captives are freed.
Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, has said the existing deal is for a temporary ceasefire and that the regime’s military has reserved “the right to return to fighting” at a future date.
Japanese judge elected ICJ president, set to oversee Israeli genocide case
Hamas: Israel can’t blackmail, terrify Palestinians through starvation, siege
Lapid to Netanyahu: ‘Jews' greatest disaster since Holocaust will always belong to you'
Israeli strike kills one in southern Lebanon: State media
Ukraine says it can hold frontline as Trump suspends all military aid
'Red line': Hamas rejects Israel’s demand for ‘full demilitarization’ of Gaza
VIDEO | Ramadan transforms streets into vibrant celebrations in Iran
Until we meet again: A letter to the ‘master of resistance’ Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah
Unraveling Iran’s puzzle of assets frozen abroad
Indian worker shot dead in Jordan trying to enter Israeli-occupied territories
Leader’s advisor warns Turkish officials against repeating baseless claims about Iran
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
