GAZA CITY: Hamas said Saturday it was ready to hand over its weapons in the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian authority governing the territory on the condition that the Israeli army&#39;s occupation ends.&nbsp;&quot;Our weapons are linked to the existence of the occupation and the aggression,&quot; Hamas chief negotiator and its Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya said in a statement, adding: &quot;If the occupation ends, these weapons will be placed under the authority of the state.&quot; Asked by AFP, Hayya&#39;s bureau said he was referring to a sovereign and independent Palestinian state.&nbsp;&quot;We accept the deployment of UN forces as a separation force, tasked with monitoring the borders and ensuring compliance with the ceasefire in Gaza,&quot; Hayya added, signalling his group&#39;s rejection of the deployment of an international force in the Strip whose mission would be to disarm it.

Middle East

Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya supports UN border-monitoring forces but rejects any international mission aimed at disarming the group.

Articles tagged with "Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya"

Hamas to surrender arms to Palestinian authority if Israeli occupation ends