Hamas denies it expressed willingness to disarm, slams Witkoff’s Gaza trip
Al Jazeera
Palestinian group says right to resist Israeli occupation ‘cannot be relinquished until full national rights restored’.
Hamas has rejected reports that it expressed a willingness to disarm during Gaza ceasefire negotiations with Israel, stressing that it has a “national and legal” right to confront the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.
The Palestinian group responded on Saturday to recent remarks purportedly made by United States President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, during a meeting with relatives of Israeli captives held in Gaza.
Citing a recording of the talks, Israeli news outlet Haaretz reported that the US envoy told the families that Hamas said it was “prepared to be demilitarised”.
But in a statement, Hamas said “the resistance and its weapons are a national and legal right as long as the [Israeli] occupation persists”.
That right “cannot be relinquished until our full national rights are restored, foremost among them the establishment of a fully sovereign, independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital”, it said.
Trump’s top economic adviser is odds-on favourite to lead the Fed amid concerns over the central bank’s independence.
Russian and US negotiators met in Moscow for almost five hours but there are no signs of any breakthrough.
NGO documents accounts of atrocities during paramilitary force’s April assault on the North Darfur facility.
Comments come after long meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and two senior US officials in Moscow.
Legal experts say there is no basis in the US Constitution for a president to revoke pardons.
Congresswoman Omar calls Trump’s comments about her ‘creepy’ after the US president launches into an anti-Somali tirade.
US is pushing for a non-aggression pact between Israel, Syria, but Netanyahu has shown little appetite for compromise.
Talks to take place in Moscow amid renewed diplomatic push to end long-running war.
PM Modi said he wants those who can’t afford shoes to be able to fly. But shrinking competition is killing that hope.
Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov said Russian forces have also captured the city of Vovchansk in Kharkiv.
Samar and Abdulrahman had everything ready for their baby. But rains ruined their plans, as they try to survive in Gaza.
US military build-up near Venezuela raises fearof invasion; White House defends kill order of alleged drug smugglers.
Donald Trump warns against actions that could ‘interfere with Syria’s evolution’ amid new Israeli incursion, strikes.