February 9, 2026 | 01:04 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A senior Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal, stated on Sunday that the Palestinian movement will not surrender its weapons or accept foreign intervention in Gaza. They rejected the demands of the U.S. and Israel.
"Criminalizing the resistance, its weapons, and those who carried it out is something we should not accept," said Khaled Meshaal at a conference in Doha as reported by Al Arabiya on Monday, February 9, 2026.
"As long as there is occupation, there is resistance. Resistance is a right of peoples under occupation ... something nations take pride in," said Meshaal, who previously led the group.
Meshaal referred to Hamas' proposal for an extended ceasefire as an alternative to dismantling its military wing. "Hamas proposed a truce of five to seven to 10 years. This is a guarantee that these weapons are not used," he said as reported by Al Jazeera.
He added that mediator countries, which have a "close relationship with Hamas, can provide guarantees." Meshaal indicated that, at its core, the conflict is about occupation and resistance, and the right to self-determination and independence.
"Resistance is a right for people under occupation; it is part of international law and the heavenly religions. Resistance is part of the memory of nations," he said.
Hamas has been engaged in armed struggle against Israel in the Palestinian territories. They launched deadly cross-border attacks into Israel from Gaza on October 7, 2023, triggering the latest war.
The U.S.-mediated ceasefire in Gaza is in its second phase. It is expected to involve demilitarization in Gaza, including the disarmament of Hamas, along with the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Hamas has repeatedly stated that disarmament is a red line. However, they indicated they may consider handing over weapons to the Palestinian Authority in the future. Israeli officials said that Hamas still has around 20,000 fighters and approximately 60,000 Kalashnikov rifles in Gaza.
A Palestinian technocratic committee has been formed to take over the day-to-day governance in the devastated Gaza Strip, but it is still unclear if, or how, the committee will address the issue of demilitarization. The committee operates under the Board of Peace formed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Read: Israeli Fire Reportedly Kills 18 in Gaza Amid Renewed Clashes
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