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On Thursday, Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal rejected any claim that Hama will disarm as demanded by Israel, and said that the Palestinian movement’s weapons were “sacred”.
“The weapons of the resistance are sacred and we will not accept that they be on the agenda” of any future negotiations with Israel, he said at a press conference in Doha, where he is currently based.
Both Hamas and Israel have hailed the ceasefire as a “victory”.
Israel has on several occasions linked the reconstruction of Gaza with the complete demilitarization of the territory.
However, Meshaal has insisted that Hamas will not give up its arms.
“The issue is not up for negotiations. No one can disarm Hamas and its resistance”, he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Hamas achieved none of its demands in the permanent ceasefire which came into effect at 16:00 GMT on Tuesday. Under the deal, Israel has lifted its restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid, construction material and goods into Gaza, and extended the offshore region open to Palestinian fishermen to six nautical miles.
However, talks on crucial issues like Hamas’ demands for an airport and a port, the release of prisoners and the Israeli call to demilitarize the Palestinian enclave completely will be delayed until negotiators from both sides return to Cairo.
Meshaal has said that his group’s weaponry “guarantees that our demands will not be overlooked”, but acknowledged that not all of its demands were met in the ceasefire deal.
“Not all our demands have been satisfied… but an important part”, he said, referring to the lifting of the blockade on Gaza.
He also praised Egypt for brokering the truce, and called on it to open the Rafah crossing with Gaza.
“It is the duty of our brothers in Egypt to quickly open Rafah”, he said.
