Hamas leader in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, announced on Saturday that the movement is prepared to hand over its weapons to the future state that will govern the Gaza Strip, but this is contingent upon the end of the Israeli occupation, according to AFP.

In a statement to the media, al-Hayya said, "Our weapons are linked to the existence of the occupation and aggression, and if the occupation ends, these weapons will be transferred to the state."

Hamas official al-Hayya's office clarified to AFP that by "state" he meant "a future sovereign Palestinian state." He added, "The issue of weapons is still under discussion with the factions and mediators, and the agreement is still in its early stages. We accept UN forces as a peacekeeping force to monitor the borders and oversee the ceasefire in Gaza."