Hamas: 'If the occupation ends we will surrender our weapons'
Trump asked the terrorist organisation to hand over the bodies of the missing hostages
"Hamas' weapons are linked to the existence of the occupation and Israeli aggression, and if the occupation were to end, these weapons would be handed over to the state," Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya said in an exclusive interview with al Jazeera, in which he addressed a range of issues, from the group's views on the future governance of Gaza to its willingness to disarm. The future of the weapons, he explained, is still being discussed with the other armed factions and mediators. The full version will be broadcast tonight.
Hamas, the leader said, has no reservations about transferring the administrative responsibilities of Gaza to any Palestinian national body and also wants elections to be held throughout Palestine. "We accept the UN forces as border observers and ceasefire monitors in Gaza," he said. On the handover of the bodies of the Israeli hostages not yet returned, he said, new areas will be entered today to search for the bodies. Finally, on the issue of the amount of aid entering the Gaza Strip al-Hayya said he was dissatisfied and called on the mediators to intervene. Gaza, was his calculation, needs 6,000 trucks a day, not just 600, adding that, for Hamas, Israel is still delaying the entry of aid.
Meanwhile, new details of the truce signed a few weeks ago between Israel and Hamas are emerging. After Hamas had failed to hand over the still missing bodies of hostages for several days, Israel considered halting aid deliveries to Gaza over the weekend in order to pressure the terrorist group to abide by the terms of the ceasefire agreement. Channel 12 writes. The broadcaster says that the Trump administration, however, reportedly blocked the move, fearing that it would lead to the collapse of the truce. "As far as he is concerned, jeopardising humanitarian aid is a red line," US officials said, referring to President Donald Trump. Yesterday, Trump had ordered Hamas to release the bodies of hostages in the next 48 hours, in line with the terms of the agreement.
