GAZA, August 3 — The war-ravaged Gaza Strip remains gripped by tension as Hamas, the Palestinian group governing the region since 2007, stood firm on a deeply emotional and political stance: it will not disarm until an independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state is established, with Jerusalem as its capital.
The statement was a direct rejection of Israel’s core condition in the ongoing indirect negotiations — that Hamas must lay down its arms to move forward with a long-term ceasefire and peace process. These talks, which have been mediated by Qatar and Egypt, have so far ended in stalemate.
Adding international weight to the pressure, France and Saudi Arabia recently issued a declaration pushing toward a two-state solution. As part of that vision, they emphasized that Hamas should surrender its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, which is internationally recognized and backed by Western allies. Qatar and Egypt lent their support to this plan.
But Hamas, deeply scarred by months of relentless Israeli airstrikes and a humanitarian crisis of unimaginable scale, made it clear in its statement: it will not abandon what it sees as its right to armed resistance unless a Palestinian state — not in theory, but in reality — is born. One with dignity. One with borders. One with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Israel, for its part, remains adamant that Hamas’ disarmament is non-negotiable. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently reiterated his belief that any independent Palestinian state would pose an existential threat to Israel. He has pushed back against the growing list of countries, including the UK and Canada, who have moved to recognize Palestinian statehood, calling such actions dangerous and rewarding violence.
The roots of the current war trace back to the shocking events of October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led fighters stormed into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages. Israel’s military response has devastated Gaza, leaving tens of thousands dead — with estimates now surpassing 60,000 Palestinians — and a civilian population reeling from hunger, displacement, and grief.
With each failed round of negotiations, hopes for an end to this cycle of violence grow dimmer. Both sides continue to trade accusations, and the most recent talks collapsed over core unresolved issues — especially around the scope of Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.
For now, the people of Gaza remain caught in the middle — waiting for peace, but not without justice.
