Hamas Refuses to Disarm Without Independent Palestinian State

Hamas announced on Saturday that it will not surrender its arms unless an independent Palestinian state is established an ultimatum that directly rebuffs Israel’s core condition for ending the war in Gaza. The statement has drawn sharp criticism in Jerusalem and underscores the persistent chasm in stalled ceasefire talks.

The terror group, which has controlled Gaza since 2007 and launched the brutal October 7 massacre that left 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage, said its “armed resistance” would only cease if a fully sovereign Palestinian state is created with Jerusalem as its capital. For Israel, such a demand is not just unacceptable it is seen as a recipe for future warfare.

Indirect negotiations, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, collapsed last week without progress on a proposed 60-day ceasefire and a hostages-for-prisoners deal. France and Saudi Arabia, joined by the mediators, had endorsed a vision for a two-state solution that included Hamas surrendering its arms to the Western-backed Palestinian Authority. Hamas’s rejection of this proposal now places those efforts on life support.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded firmly, reaffirming that Israel would never allow a sovereign Palestinian state under current conditions. “It would serve as a platform to destroy Israel,” he warned. Netanyahu insists that Israel must retain security control over all Palestinian territories to prevent another October 7-style attack.

The Israeli position remains unchanged: Hamas must disarm, hostages must be released unconditionally, and the terror infrastructure in Gaza must be dismantled. Anything less, Israeli officials argue, would endanger millions of lives and reward terrorism.

Several Western nations, including Canada and the UK, have recently stated their intentions to recognize a Palestinian state moves Netanyahu strongly condemned as diplomatic rewards for Hamas's atrocities. “The world must not legitimize terror,” he said.

With no breakthrough in sight and Hamas doubling down on its demands, the impasse appears more entrenched than ever. Israel’s military campaign in Gaza continues, focused on pressuring Hamas to release the remaining hostages some 50 in number, with approximately 20 believed to be alive.

While global voices call for ceasefire, Israeli citizens and leaders know peace cannot come at the price of surrender. Disarming Hamas is not a political stance it’s a matter of survival.

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