In an interview with Al Jazeera on Sunday, Hamas Gaza chief Khalil al-Haya insisted that his movement’s concessions were conditional on the end of the Israeli occupation, insisting that “when the occupation ends, these weapons will be handed over to the state.”
He said the fate of the weapons was still being discussed with other factions and mediators, suggesting flexibility in terms.
Al-Haya said Hamas had “no objection” to the transfer of civilian administration in Gaza to a Palestinian state institution, and argued that Hamas was willing to step back from governing while resisting the occupation, and promoted national elections as a path to unity.
On the humanitarian front, Hamas officials denounced Israeli restrictions, bluntly stating that “Gaza needs 6,000 aid trucks a day, not 600” and urging mediators to completely fill the corridors as relief remains woefully inadequate.
He also confirmed that teams would enter new areas to search for the bodies of some prisoners, and said Hamas was hosting UN forces to monitor the ceasefire and borders. He indicated that this was a pragmatic rather than conciliatory move.