Hamas Offers to Disarm Under Condition of Ending Israeli Occupation

The Palestinian militant group Hamas stated on Saturday it is prepared to surrender its weapons to a future Palestinian government. The condition for this step is a complete end to the Israeli occupation. The announcement comes amid ongoing tensions. Since a ceasefire began on October 10, Israeli actions have killed more than 360 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health officials. Hamas, which governs Gaza, is classified as a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States, and others. The group's offer refers to a potential unified Palestinian Authority, which currently holds limited power in parts of the occupied West Bank. Israel has long demanded Hamas's disarmament as a central goal. There was no immediate Israeli response to this conditional proposal.