Hamas Leader Dismisses Calls to Surrender Weapons

A senior Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal, has firmly rejected calls for the group to lay down its weapons, arguing that disarmament is impossible while Israel continues its military operations and control over Gaza.

Meshaal made the remarks while speaking at the Al Jazeera Forum, an international event organized by Al Jazeera that brings together journalists, analysts, and political leaders from around the world.

Disarmament Seen as Threat to Palestinian Self-Defense

According to Meshaal, proposals to strip Hamas of its weapons are part of a long-standing strategy aimed at weakening and dismantling Palestinian armed resistance.

He said discussions about Hamas disarming do not represent a genuine peace effort, but rather an attempt to undermine what he described as the Palestinians’ right to defend themselves.

“Calling on Hamas to disarm while Israel continues occupying Gaza and suppressing Palestinians is equivalent to asking us to surrender our right to self-defense,” Meshaal stated.

Global Debate Over Hamas Weapons

Meshaal’s comments come amid growing international debate over whether Hamas should give up its weapons as a pathway to ending the conflict in the Middle East.

Some international actors have argued that disarmament could help pave the way for long-term peace. However, Hamas leaders maintain that such demands ignore the realities on the ground, including ongoing military pressure, blockades, and restrictions on Palestinian civilians.

Fragile Ceasefire Has Not Ended the War

In September 2025, a US-brokered agreement aimed at ending hostilities between Hamas and Israel in Gaza was signed. The deal included measures such as prisoner exchanges and a reduction in active fighting.

Despite these steps, the conflict has not fully ended, and military tensions remain high.

Meshaal said that calling for Hamas to disarm under these conditions would effectively weaken Palestinian resistance at a time when, he argues, Gaza remains under occupation.

Hamas Accuses International Community of Double Standards

The Hamas leader also criticized the international community, accusing it of failing to exert sufficient pressure on Israel to halt military actions and end what he described as the occupation of Gaza.

“No nation or movement would accept laying down arms while its land and basic rights are still being taken away,” Meshaal said.

He argued that lasting peace cannot be achieved without justice, stressing that security arrangements must be based on equal rights and the end of occupation.

Willingness for Talks, But With Conditions

Meshaal emphasized that Hamas remains open to peace negotiations, provided they are built on clear conditions, including an end to Israeli control over Gaza and full recognition of Palestinian rights.

Without those guarantees, he said, armed resistance would continue.

Khaled Meshaal is currently one of Hamas’ top leaders following the deaths of Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, who were killed in Israeli operations in 2024.