Hamas says Palestinians will not lay down their arms as long as Israeli occupation continues

Hamas emphasized Sunday that the Palestinian people have the right to govern their own land, and as long as the Israeli occupation continues, they will not lay down their arms.

Khaled Meshaal, the group's foreign affairs chief, said that no external political system can be imposed on them.

Hamas shared a video from Meshaal's speech at a ceremony held in Cairo, Egypt honoring Palestinian prisoners who were released and exiled as part of a prisoner swap and ceasefire agreement with Israel.

"Gaza belongs only to its people; neither Gaza nor the West Bank's people will exchange their homeland for anywhere else," he said.

He stressed that Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank will remain strongly attached to their land.

"Palestine has no alternative other than Palestine. While our respect for Arab and Islamic countries remains, nothing can replace our homeland."

Meshaal pointed out that Palestine will be governed solely by its people, and no foreign political system will be imposed. He also said that disarming an occupied people is not an option.

He highlighted the importance of national unity in facing the challenges that Palestine is encountering and called on the Arab world to stand by the Palestinian people.

He noted that Gaza is facing a major conspiracy, with attempts to force the population into exile by starving them.

"The future of Gaza, its governance, its weapons, and the strength of its resistance are under threat," he said.

Meshaal expressed appreciation for the Arab League's decisions rejecting the forced migration of Palestinians, emphasizing that the threat is no longer limited to Gaza and the West Bank but also includes countries like Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, with their leaders beginning to recognize this threat.

He referred to certain world and regional leaders' plans to relocate Palestinians to other countries.

"The Ummah (Muslim community) feels this threat, but that is not enough. Further steps must be taken," he said.

Meshaal added that the path to regaining their homeland, freeing prisoners and achieving independence lies through "jihad."

"We tell the leaders of the Ummah and Egypt: If the Oct. 6 (1973 War) had not happened, they would not have regained the Sinai. Without (the) Oct. 7, (2023 Hamas attack on Israel), we cannot reclaim Palestine."