At a conference in Qatar, Khaled Mashal said resistance to occupation, including armed resistance, is a legitimate right of the Palestinian people. He said Hamas and other Palestinian resistance factions will not give up their weapons as long as Israeli occupying forces remain in Palestinian territories.

Mashal’s remarks indicate that Hamas will not agree to disarm in the Gaza Strip under the peace initiative proposed by US President Donald Trump unless Israeli forces fully withdraw from the territory.

Earlier this year, the United States said it would move to Phase Two of the Gaza peace agreement, which includes the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.