Qassem, the Hamas spokesman, also rejected this suggestion, saying:
1. We hold onto our resistance weapon as a legitimate right,
2. and what was attributed to Moussa Abu Marzouk does not represent the movement’s stance.

"Resistance in all its forms is a legitimate right for our people until liberation and return.”

Asked about the ongoing, fragile hostage release-ceasefire deal, which has paused fighting in the Strip as Hamas has freed captives who were mostly abducted on October 7 and Israel has set free over a thousand Palestinian security prisoners, including many terror convicts —

Abu Marzouk said he was open to extending the three-part deal’s first phase, which is currently slated to end on Saturday.