Hamas has declared that it will not halt its resistance until an independent and fully sovereign Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital, is established. The statement comes in response to a United Nations appeal made from its New York headquarters, urging the group to disarm.

In a brief statement released Thursday (July 31), Hamas asserted that its resistance would persist until Israeli occupation ends and Palestine’s statehood is fully realized.

Earlier this week, a three-day conference was held at the UN headquarters in New York, aiming to revive a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. The conference, co-led by France and Saudi Arabia, issued a joint declaration on the second day (Tuesday, July 29).

Seventeen countries signed the declaration, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UK, France, Canada, and several other Western nations. It called on Hamas to relinquish control of Gaza and lay down its arms.

Meanwhile, humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate. Aid trucks carrying food are being met with deadly force. Many civilians, including children and the elderly, are reportedly being killed while trying to receive aid. Medical organizations claim that chaos around the aid deliveries appears to be deliberately orchestrated.

In one tragic case, a young boy named Amir walked 12 kilometers barefoot in search of food, only to be caught in Israeli fire.

Despite calls for assistance, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff—on a recent visit to Gaza—did not meet with any UN representatives. Instead, he toured the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which the UN has repeatedly accused of inefficiency and compromising safety.

On the Israeli side, Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi has signaled that a ceasefire is not yet on the horizon. He claimed that “false famine propaganda” is being spread about Gaza and said that within a few days, it will be clearer whether a ceasefire is possible.