Key Points
• Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya: weapons are a legitimate right
• Senior official Bassem Naim is open to freezing or storing weapons
• Palestinian leadership stresses right to self-defence in ceasefire talks
DOHA: Hamas’s chief Khalil al-Hayya reaffirmed on Sunday that the Palestinian people have a “legitimate right” to maintain an arsenal for resistance, stressing that any proposal for the next phases of the Gaza ceasefire must respect this fundamental right.
“Resistance and its weapons are a legitimate right guaranteed by international law and are linked to the establishment of a Palestinian state,” al-Hayya said in a televised address on Al-Aqsa TV.
“We are open to studying any proposals that preserve this right while guaranteeing the establishment of a Palestinian state,” AFP added, quoting Al-Aqsa TV.
Separately, senior Hamas official Bassem Naim told reporters that the movement is prepared to discuss options such as “freezing or storing” its weapons during the next phase of U.S.-brokered negotiations. The statements signalled a willingness to protect civilians and ensure a sustainable truce without surrendering the essential means for Palestinian self-defence.
The comments come as diplomats seek to build on the initial truce, which paused hostilities and enabled humanitarian assistance. Analysts note that discussions over the resistance arsenal underscore the importance of acknowledging Palestinian rights while negotiating security arrangements. The next phase is expected to address disarmament proposals, international oversight, and protections for Palestinian communities.
