The United States will not support the creation of a Palestinian state under Hamas control, according to John Kirby, the National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator. This statement was made in response to an interview given by Khalil al-Hayya to the Associated Press. Al-Hayya is a member of the Hamas politburo and serves as the formal deputy of Hamas head in Gaza Yahya Sinouar. He is also part of the Hamas delegation involved in negotiations with Israel through intermediaries.
In an interview with the AP, al-Hayya outlined Hamas’s proposal for the creation of an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He suggested that in exchange for a five-year truce, Hamas would disband its militant wing and transition into a political party. Despite recent attacks on October 7 that caused damage, al-Hayya stated that Hamas does not regret these actions as they brought attention to the Palestinian issue.
John Kirby spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One and condemned Hamas as a terrorist organization while emphasizing that leaders have the power to end the conflict immediately. He criticized the violation of a ceasefire in place until October 6 and called for hostages’ release as evidence of their commitment to creating a Palestinian state. Kirby’s remarks underscored the United States’ stance on Hamas and ongoing conflict in the region.