According to a report by The Jerusalem Post, Khalil al-Hayya, deputy chief of Hamas’s political bureau, discussed the group’s position on the return of hostage remains and the issue of disarmament during an interview with Al Jazeera on Saturday.
Al-Hayya revealed that Hamas plans to expand its search operations across Gaza to locate the bodies of those who were killed during the conflict. “We will enter new areas in Gaza on Sunday to search for bodies,” al-Hayya told Al Jazeera, highlighting the group’s intention to assist in recovery efforts amid ongoing negotiations.
The senior Hamas official also addressed recent diplomatic engagements, saying that he had spoken with U.S. representatives about the group’s stance on regional stability. “I told [US Special Envoy Steve] Witkoff and [Jared] Kushner during the meeting with them that we are advocates of stability,” he said, referring to the discussions held with American envoys involved in post-war mediation.
Responding to calls for the group’s disarmament, al-Hayya insisted that Hamas’s weapons are tied to the Israeli occupation and would be relinquished only under specific conditions. “Our weapons are linked to the existence of the occupation and aggression, and if the occupation ends, these weapons will belong to the state,” he stated.
He further clarified that the question of disarmament remains unresolved, noting that discussions are ongoing among Palestinian factions and international mediators. “The issue of weapons is still under discussion with the factions and mediators, and the agreement is still in its early stages,” al-Hayya added.
His comments reflect Hamas’s efforts to position itself as a political actor while maintaining leverage over the disarmament talks. The statements come as negotiations continue to define Gaza’s future governance, reconstruction, and security arrangements in the aftermath of the conflict. View, More,
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