Resistance's weapons cannot be touched, Hamas says in response to Abbas

The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas on Thursday said that its "weapons cannot be touched" and that resistance was a national and moral responsibility that derives its legitimacy from the Palestinian people, Al Jazeera Arabic reported. 

The comments come as a response to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's speech at the United Nations.

"The resistance's weapons cannot be touched as long as the occupation remains on our land, and we condemn the PA president's demand to hand them over," Hamas said. 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spoke by video to the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday and said his government was ready to implement a plan unveiled this week by US President Donald Trump for the besieged enclave. 

Abbas demanded Hamas hand over its weapons to the “Palestinian National Authority” and said “we do not want an armed state”.

“We are ready to bare full responsibility for governance and security” in Gaza, he said, where “Hamas will not have a role to play in governance”.

Abbas and his Palestinian delegation has been denied visas by the Trump administration and addressed the annual UN summit remotely.