During his interview with the Associated Press, Khalil al-Hayya, a member of the Hamas politburo and deputy of Hamas leader Yahya Sinouar in Gaza, expressed his group’s proposal to establish an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, along with the return of Palestinian refugees. He claimed that if these conditions were met, Hamas’ militant wing would be disbanded, and the organization would transition into a political party.
However, John Kirby, National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator for the United States, made it clear that the US will not support the creation of a Palestinian state under Hamas control. This was in response to al-Hayya’s comments about disbanding Hamas’ militant wing. Kirby emphasized that Hamas leaders have the power to end the conflict immediately by adhering to ceasefire agreements and releasing hostages. He also criticized Hamas for their actions, labeling them as a terrorist group and highlighting their disregard for previous ceasefires undermining their credibility in seeking a state for the Palestinian people.
