Hamas declared Saturday that it will not surrender its weapons unless an "independent, fully sovereign" Palestinian state is established with Jerusalem as its capital, rejecting reports that it had agreed to demilitarize. The statement came after Israel's Haaretz newspaper published a recording attributed to U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in which he reportedly said, "Hamas has said that they are prepared to be demilitarized" and that a solution to end the war was "very, very close." "Resistance and its weapons are a national and legitimate right as long as the occupation continues, a right recognized by international laws and conventions," Hamas said on Telegram. "Such rights cannot be relinquished except with the full attainment of our national rights." Witkoff met families of Israeli hostages in Tel Aviv on Saturday, his third visit to Hostage Square since the war began, amid renewed calls for a ceasefire deal following the release of videos showing two emaciated Israeli captives. On Friday, Witkoff toured an aid center in southern Gaza run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), saying he aimed to give U.S. President Donald Trump "a clear understanding of the humanitarian situation" to shape a plan for food and medical aid deliveries. Hamas condemned the visit as a "propaganda stunt" designed to deflect outrage over what UN officials and rights groups have described as Israel's systematic starvation campaign. Gaza's Health Ministry says at least 169 Palestinians, including 93 children, have died from hunger-related causes since Oct. 7, 2023. Rejecting calls for a ceasefire, Israel has continued its offensive in Gaza, which the ministry says has killed more than 60,000 people, most of them women and children. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes, while Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice. — Agencies
