Hamas: Witkoff visit to GHF site aimed at ‘polishing the image of the occupation’; won’t disarm until Palestinian state with Jerusalem as capital

Hamas directly condemns US special envoy Steve Witkoff over his visit to a site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Fund yesterday.

In a statement, it also vows not to disarm “as long as the occupation exists” and until there is a fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. That comment comes hours after Witkoff reportedly told the families that Hamas has said it is ready to demilitarize.

Hamas calls Witkoff’s visit “nothing more than a pre-arranged theatrical performance aimed at misleading public opinion, polishing the image of the occupation, and providing it with political cover for managing starvation and continuing the systematic killing of children and unarmed civilians from our people in the Gaza Strip.”

“Witkoff’s misleading statements, along with the broadcast of propaganda images attempting to portray the aid distribution as peaceful, are contradicted by the facts on the ground where he stood, where more than 1,300 innocent starving martyrs were shot by the bullets of the occupation army and the inhumane employees of the “Gaza Foundation,” which was established to complete the chapters of killing and genocide,” Hamas claims in a statement.

“The American administration is a full partner in the crime of starvation and genocide taking place in plain sight of the entire world,” it adds.

Israel has denied allegations that it is purposely starving Gaza and committing genocide in the territory.

“We call on the American administration to bear its historical responsibility by lifting the cover from the crime of the century in Gaza and moving towards a ceasefire agreement that leads to ending the aggression, the withdrawal of the occupation army, and lifting the unjust siege on our people, instead of aligning with the policies of the occupation and its violations that shame humanity, which only deepen the humanitarian disaster and sustain the conflict in Palestine and the region.”

Hamas also says that it won’t disarm, vowing to continue its violent struggle “as long as the occupation exists.” It says this right “has been affirmed by charters and international norms, and they cannot be relinquished except by fully restoring our national rights, foremost among them is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty and Jerusalem as its capital.”