Senior Hamas Official: If Israel Continues Attacks, Resistance Forces Will Not Surrender Weapons
Xinhua News Agency, Gaza, February 12 (Reporter Huang Zemin, Zhao Weihong) - Mahmoud al-Mardawi, a senior official of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), stated on the 12th that as long as Israel continues to launch attacks, the resistance forces will not surrender their weapons.
The statement said that Hamas is committed to a ceasefire in Gaza, but Israel seems to be unrestrained. The resistance forces will not surrender their weapons unless the Israeli side adheres to the ceasefire agreement. After the establishment of a Palestinian state, the weapons will be handed over to the unified management of the state.
Hamas spokesman Hazim Qasim also issued a statement on the same day, saying that Hamas has not received a complete proposal regarding the weapons issue from the mediators of the Gaza ceasefire, and that the focus on the weapons issue is intended to cover up the reality of the Israeli side obstructing the implementation of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
In January of this year, the United States announced the launch of the second phase of the "20-point plan" to end the Gaza conflict, shifting from a ceasefire to the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, technocratic governance, and reconstruction. The U.S. side stated that the second phase will begin with "comprehensive demilitarization" and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, primarily aimed at disarming "all unauthorized personnel."
The Times of Israel reported on the 10th that the Israel Defense Forces are formulating plans to prepare for a "new offensive in the Gaza Strip to forcibly disarm Hamas."
According to data released by the health department of the Palestinian Gaza Strip on the 11th, since the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect, Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip have resulted in 591 deaths and 1,578 injuries.
Hamas officials declared they will not disarm as long as Israel continues its military actions in Gaza. They expressed a commitment to a ceasefire but accused Israel of violating agreements. The Israeli Defense Forces are reportedly planning new offensives to disarm Hamas, which has resulted in significant casualties since the ceasefire began.
- Hamas will not disarm unless Israel adheres to ceasefire agreements.
- Hamas claims it has not received a complete proposal regarding disarmament.
- Israeli Defense Forces are planning new offensives in Gaza to disarm Hamas.
- Since the ceasefire began, Israeli actions have resulted in 591 deaths and 1578 injuries in Gaza.