Washington, United States – US Middle East envoy Steve Wittkopf revealed that the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas has expressed its willingness to hand over its weapons to an international security force in the Gaza Strip.
Wittkopf’s remarks came during the US-Miami Business Forum. The US envoy also indicated that Washington is pressing Israel to allow Hamas militants trapped in Rafah to leave the area. This is happening in the southern Gaza Strip.
Hamas assertions and Washington’s strategy
According to Luitkov, Hamas has “consistently confirmed its readiness to hand over its weapons,” including to US President Donald Trump’s advisor, Jared Kushner.
The US envoy expressed hope that the movement would fulfill its promise, adding: “If it does, it will realize that the development plan we have for Gaza is truly exceptional, and far better than anything previously proposed.”
Whitkopf emphasized that this American initiative includes “a broad job creation program” as part of reconstruction and stabilization efforts in the sector.
