Hamas Vows Never to Disarm as Long as Israel Exists

In a defiant declaration that casts fresh doubt over already-fragile Gaza ceasefire negotiations, Khaled Qaddoumi, Hamas's official representative in Tehran, announced that the terrorist organization will never lay down its weapons as long as Israel continues to exist. Speaking at a press conference broadcast on Iranian state media outlet PressTV, Qaddoumi insisted that Hamas's arsenal is inseparable from what he called legitimate "resistance," and vowed the group's weapons will remain in place for as long as it considers Israel an "occupation." The remarks strip away any ambiguity about Hamas's true intentions, even as international mediators continue pushing for a durable ceasefire framework.

Qaddoumi is no fringe voice — he has served as Hamas's representative in Tehran for over a decade, working closely with the group's Iranian backers to coordinate strategy and messaging. Notably, these are not new remarks; he made nearly identical statements as recently as July 2026, once again rejecting any disarmament and framing armed struggle as legally protected under international law. In that same breath, he referred to Israel as a "cancerous growth," language that lays bare the deeply entrenched ideological hostility driving Hamas's refusal to negotiate in good faith on the core issue of demilitarization.

The timing of these comments is no coincidence, arriving just as ceasefire talks involving international mediators attempt to hammer out terms on troop withdrawals and humanitarian aid access into Gaza. By publicly reaffirming that its weapons are non-negotiable regardless of any deal reached, Hamas is signaling to the world — and to Israel — that even a signed agreement on paper may do little to address the underlying threat. For Israeli officials and their allies, the statement serves as a stark reminder that lasting peace remains elusive so long as Hamas continues to prioritize armed resistance over genuine reconciliation.