A spokesman for Palestinian Islamic Jihad made clear that his organization has no intention of laying down its weapons under any circumstances.
Speaking on a January 29, 2026 broadcast on Palestine Today TV, Muhammad Al-Hajj Musa said the issue of disarmament has never been negotiated with his group, despite claims that various proposals were floated by the United States.
Al-Hajj Musa said the Americans had suggested several possible “formulas” regarding the group’s weapons, including freezing them, neutralizing them, or fully disarming the organization. However, he stressed that no talks ever took place with Islamic Jihad itself on this issue and that, as far as the group is concerned, the matter is not up for discussion.
According to Al-Hajj Musa, the weapons held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad are both a symbolic and practical asset that “belong to the Palestinian people” and will remain in the hands of fighters on the battlefield. He argued that relinquishing weapons would leave Palestinians defenseless and claimed that international law grants them the right to bear arms. Even in the context of a limited truce, he said, the weapons would not be stored or put away in any form.