Just a few days following a ceasefire in Gaza, Hamas leaders say the group won’t stop arming itself in its fight against Israel, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The group’s second in command, Moussa Abu Marzouk, said the only way Hamas makes any traction in negotiations with Israel is through force. Thus, the group has no plans to disarm itself.
“There is no way to relinquish weapons," he said in an interview with The Journal. “These weapons protected us and there is no way to stop obtaining and manufacturing them.”
Hamas has demanded that Israel lift all restrictions on shipments to and from the Palestinian territory, while also easing travel restrictions for people. Israel has maintained a border blockade since 2007, when the group took over.
Brokered in Egypt, Israel and Hamas reached an agreement to halt attacks on Wednesday. Dozens of civilians were killed in the week-long conflict.
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