Turkey denies demanding Hamas disarm or release captives: Reports
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Turkey refutes claims it asked Hamas to disarm or free hostages, clarifying its stance during recent Gaza ceasefire talks and the UN Palestine conference.
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A Palestinian carries the body of a youth killed while trying to reach trucks carrying humanitarian aid en route to Gaza City, outside the Hamad Al-Qatari Hospital in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, Friday, August 1, 2025 (AP)
Turkey has denied media reports claiming it demanded that the Palestinian movement Hamas release Israeli captives or disarm during recent diplomatic engagements, a Turkish diplomatic source told RIA Novosti on Saturday.
The clarification follows a high-level international conference on Palestine held at the United Nations headquarters in New York from July 28 to 30. Co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, the conference culminated in a joint statement by the foreign ministers of 15 Western nations advocating for the recognition of Palestinian statehood.
“Claims that Turkey ‘demanded that Hamas release the hostages’ are not true,” the source stated. While Article 8 of the declaration does mention the release of hostages, the source emphasized that it was framed within the broader context of a comprehensive ceasefire agreement. This framework, supported by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, includes the release of all captives, an exchange of Palestinian prisoners, the return of bodies, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Gaza.
Turkey pushes Hamas toward disarmament
The Turkish official also dismissed reports suggesting Ankara urged Hamas to surrender its arms.
According to the source, "Article 11 calls on Hamas to relinquish governance in Gaza and transfer its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, contingent upon the establishment of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State backed by international guarantees."
The source noted that while earlier drafts of the declaration used the term “disarm,” Turkey intervened to have the language revised, ensuring that any reference to Hamas transferring weapons was explicitly tied to the creation of a recognized Palestinian state.
Hamas dismisses media reports
Similarly, and in response to recent media reports quoting US envoy Steve Witkoff, which claimed that the Palestinian resistance had expressed willingness to disarm, the movement firmly denied the allegations.
The resistance reaffirmed that its arms and operations are a national and legal entitlement as long as the Israeli occupation persists. It emphasized that international laws and conventions recognize the right of occupied peoples to resist by all available means.
The statement clarified that disarmament is not an option unless all Palestinian national rights are fully restored, foremost among them the establishment of an independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with al-Quds as its capital.
US, "Israel" pull negotiators from talks
On July 24, both the United States and the Israeli occupation withdrew their negotiators from the Qatari capital, claiming that Hamas showed a “lack of desire” to reach a ceasefire agreement in the war-torn Gaza Strip.
In response, Hamas rejected the accusations, expressing surprise at the characterization and reiterating its commitment to achieving a truce. The group emphasized that it was negotiating in good faith, and said the blame for delays lies with "Israel's" refusal to accept key humanitarian and security conditions.
