Hamas rejects Israeli demand for Gaza disarmament, calls it a ‘red line’

After Israel's foreign minister insisted on the total demilitarisation of Gaza before moving to the second phase of the ceasefire, Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri dismissed the demand as unacceptable.

"Any talk about the resistance’s weapons is nonsense. The resistance’s weapons are a red line for Hamas and all resistance factions," Abu Zuhri told AFP news agency.

Israel has long sought to dismantle Palestinian armed groups, using this as justification for its brutal military campaigns. However, Hamas and other factions maintain that their weapons are a crucial part of their struggle against Israeli occupation.