HAMAS says it will never lay guns down unless an independent Palestinian state is established and its capital is Jerusalem.
The militant group, labeled a terrorist organization by both the UK and the US, has released a disturbing video that depicts an undernourished Israeli hostage being held in a tunnel.
This group announced their statement in response to claims by US envoy Steve Witkoff, suggesting that they had shown a readiness to disarm.
It said: “We reaffirm that resistance and its arms are a legitimate national and legal right as long as the occupation continues.
“Our right is acknowledged by international laws and norms, and it cannot be surrendered unless our national rights are fully restored – primarily, the creation of a fully independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital,” they stated.
Hamas also released a video showing an Israeli man – Evyatar David – being held hostage in what looks like a tunnel.
Evyatar, 24, was one of the 251 people kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival on October 7.
The distressing video shows him telling the camera: “I haven’t eaten for days… I barely got drinking water.”
He is also seen digging what he says will be his own grave.
His family have given permission for media outlets to show the video.
Today, they issued a written declaration: “We are forced to witness our beloved son and brother, Evyatar David, being deliberately and cynically starved in the tunnels in Gaza, a living skeleton, essentially buried alive.”
“Our son has only a few days left to live in his current condition.
“Hamas is using our son as a live experiment in a vile hunger campaign.
“The deliberate starvation of our son as part of a propaganda campaign is one of the most horrifying acts the world has seen.”
David is one of 49 hostages that Israel says are still held in Gaza.
It comes as at least 51 people – including 27 aid workers – have been killed so far on Saturday in Israeli attacks across Gaza.
More than 60,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in the catastrophic conflict in Gaza, as a severe hunger crisis worsens, exacerbated by Israel’s harsh blockade on aid deliveries.
The war began when Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 people as hostages into Gaza.
Last week, indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel reached an impasse, hindering efforts to establish a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and reach an agreement for the release of hostages.
Hamas has dominated Gaza since 2007, but has been militarily weakened by Israel in the war.
Israel considers the disarmament of Hamas a key condition for a deal to end the war.
But Hamas has repeatedly said it will not lay down its guns.
Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a future independent Palestinian state would be a platform to destroy Israel.
For this reason, Netanyahu added, Israel must have security control over Palestinian territories.
He also criticised the UK and Canada, among other countries, for their plans to recognise a Palestinian state.
