Hamas has declared that it will not lay down arms unless a fully sovereign Palestinian state is established with Jerusalem as its capital, deepening the deadlock in ceasefire talks with Israel. In a statement released after indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel collapsed last week and cited by ABC , the Palestinian group stated that its "armed resistance … cannot be relinquished except through the full restoration of our national rights, foremost among them the establishment of an independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital". The failed talks, aimed

Hamas has declared that it will not lay down arms unless a fully sovereign Palestinian state is established with Jerusalem as its capital, deepening the deadlock in ceasefire talks with Israel. In a statement released after indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel collapsed last week and cited by

ABC

, the Palestinian group stated that its "armed resistance … cannot be relinquished except through the full restoration of our national rights, foremost among them the establishment of an independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital". The failed talks, aimed at securing a 60-day ceasefire in the ongoing Gaza war and arranging a hostage exchange, have left the region bracing for continued violence as humanitarian conditions in the enclave deteriorate.

U.S. envoy claims Hamas ready to disarm under peace plan

Shortly after the statement from Hamas, U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, offered a conflicting narrative. Witkoff told reporters he is working alongside the Israeli government on a plan that he claims would effectively end the war in Gaza. Speaking during a recorded meeting reviewed by Reuters, Witkoff said:

 “We have a very, very good plan that we're working on collectively with the Israeli government, with Prime Minister Netanyahu … for the reconstruction of Gaza. That effectively means the end of the war.”

Witkoff also claimed that Hamas was prepared to disarm as part of this broader effort to end the conflict, though no specific terms or confirmation from Hamas have been released supporting that claim. It is not yet clear who Witkoff was addressing in the meeting. The White House has not commented on his remarks.

Talks with Israel and key U.S. goals

On Thursday, Witkoff met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Following the meeting, a senior Israeli official said there is a growing understanding between Israel and Washington that the focus should shift from securing the release of some hostages to a more comprehensive plan involving the release of all hostages, the disarmament of Hamas, and the demilitarisation of Gaza, echoing Israel’s central demands for ending the war. On Friday, Witkoff and U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee toured southern Gaza, visiting one of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s (GHF) food distribution sites. Their visit comes amid mounting international criticism over the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where food shortages, mass displacement, and infrastructure collapse continue to plague civilians after months of conflict.

White House special envoy Steve Witkoff (centre) during a visit to Gaza. (AP: US Embassy, Jerusalem via ABC) 

As international and regional actors struggle to bridge the divide, the competing statements from Hamas and the U.S. envoy underscore the complexity and fragility of efforts to end the Gaza war.

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