Doha/Gaza, February 8, 2026: Hamas political leader-in-exile Khaled Meshaal has rejected calls for Palestinian factions in Gaza to disarm, arguing that stripping weapons from a people under occupation would leave them “an easy victim to be eliminated.”
Speaking on the second day of the Al Jazeera Forum in Doha, Meshaal said discussions about Hamas handing over its weapons reflected a long-standing effort to neutralize Palestinian armed resistance.
“In the context that our people are still under occupation, talking about disarmament is an attempt to make our people an easy victim to be eliminated,” he said, adding that Israel possesses extensive international weaponry.
Meshaal stated that any conversation on disarmament must be preceded by conditions that enable reconstruction, humanitarian relief, and guarantees against renewed conflict. He noted that Hamas has conveyed its vision through mediators including Qatar, Türkiye, and Egypt, as well as via indirect dialogue with the United States.
Last month, US President Donald Trump called for the “comprehensive” demilitarisation of Hamas and warned of repercussions if the group refused. Hamas has maintained it will not give up its arms while Israel continues its occupation of Gaza.
Under the second phase of a US-mediated ceasefire agreement reached in October, Washington aims to address Hamas’s disarmament and the potential deployment of an international peacekeeping force. However, hostilities have persisted, with Israel accused of carrying out near-daily attacks and refusing to withdraw from parts of eastern Gaza. Reports indicate that at least 576 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,500 injured since the ceasefire began.
Meshaal argued that the core issue lies not in guarantees from Hamas but in Israel’s intentions, claiming that disarming Palestinians could create instability. As an alternative, he said Hamas had proposed a long-term truce ranging from five to ten years, suggesting that mediating countries could help ensure compliance.
Referring to the broader conflict, Meshaal described the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel as a “turning point” that forced renewed global attention on the Palestinian cause. While welcoming the growing number of countries recognizing a Palestinian state, he said the move was “not enough” without tangible progress on the ground.
“The Palestinian cause must have a solution,” Meshaal said, urging Arab and Muslim countries to adopt a more assertive diplomatic stance and work toward increasing international pressure on Israel.
