The Palestinian group Hamas announced on Saturday that it would only lay down its arms if an independent and fully sovereign Palestinian state is established.

This statement came in response to a report by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which claimed that in an audio recording attributed to Steve Witkoff, the U.S. envoy on Middle East affairs, it was said: “Hamas has declared its readiness to disarm.”

According to the report, Witkoff also stated: “We are very, very close to reaching a solution to end this war.”

In reaction to these reports, Hamas released a statement on Telegram, saying:
“In response to some media reports quoting Steve Witkoff, claiming that Hamas has expressed willingness to disarm, we affirm that resistance and its arms are a national and legitimate right as long as the occupation continues. This right is recognized by international laws and conventions.”

Hamas added:
“Such rights can only be relinquished once all our national rights are realized, foremost among them the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”

Protest for Ceasefire Agreement and Trump Envoy Meets Hostages’ Families

Steve Witkoff, special envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump, met with the families of Israeli hostages in Gaza on Saturday in Tel Aviv. According to Haaretz, at the same time, hundreds gathered at Hostages’ Square, demanding a ceasefire agreement to secure the release of their loved ones.

This marks Witkoff’s third visit to the square since the beginning of the war.

The meeting took place just hours after Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad released videos of two Israeli hostages, Eviatar David and Rom Braslavsky, both appearing to be in visibly deteriorated physical condition.

On Thursday, Hamas described Witkoff’s meeting with the hostages’ families as a “publicity stunt,” claiming that the aim was to divert global public opinion from what human rights organizations and UN agencies have described as “Israel’s systematic starvation campaign.”