Hamas says to give up weapons "if occupation ends"

Alsharq Tribune-Ahmed Essam 

Head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Khalil al-Hayya, said on Saturday that the group will give up its weapons "if the (Israeli) occupation ends."

"Our weapon is linked to the presence of the occupation and aggression, and if the occupation ends, this weapon will be handed over to the state," he said during an interview with Al Jazeera.

"Weapons are still under discussion with the factions and mediators, and the agreement is still in its early stages," he added.

During the interview, al-Hayya also mentioned that "new areas will be entered on Sunday to search for some bodies of (Israeli) occupation prisoners."

Regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza during the ceasefire, which took effect on Oct. 10, al-Hayya said that Israel "obstructs the entry of some materials into Gaza as if we are still in the midst of war."

"We are not satisfied with the amount of aid entering the Gaza Strip and call on mediators to intervene," he said.

Hamas has previously refused to disarm, deeming it a red line, while Israel insists on the disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian factions in Gaza as a key condition in the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.