Hamas claims ready to lay down arms in two-state solution

Hamas is claiming that it’s ready to lay down its arms if a two-state solution is implemented. 

Top Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya told the Associated Press that Hamas would dissolve its military wing and become a political party if a Palestinian state is established along the 1967 borders.

“All the experiences of people who fought against occupiers, when they became independent and obtained their rights and their state, what have these forces done? They have turned into political parties and their defending fighting forces have turned into the national army,” al-Hayya said.

Hamas would like to join the Palestine Liberation Organization and form a unified government for Gaza and the West Bank, he said, adding that the terror group would accept “a fully sovereign Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and the return of Palestinian refugees in accordance with the international resolutions.”

Israel has previously given Hamas the option of laying down its weapons and surrender but won’t accept the terror group having any formal role in any of the Palestinian Territories.

Israel is also not ready for a two-state solution, arguing it would be rewarding terror with statehood.

As for Hamas’ military capabilities, which Israel says it has nearly destroyed, al-Hayya claimed the opposite. Israel has not “destroyed more than 20% of (Hamas’) capabilities, neither human nor in the field. If they can’t finish (Hamas) off, what is the solution? The solution is to go to consensus.”

The Hamas official also threatened any outside interference with daily life in Gaza, including the Washington’s project building a pier for humanitarian aid to enter the enclave via sea.

“We categorically reject any non-Palestinian presence in Gaza, whether at sea or on land, and we will deal with any military force present in these places, Israeli or otherwise … as an occupying power,” he said.