Dhaka, Aug. 3 -- Hamas has rejected reports that it expressed a willingness to disarm during Gaza ceasefire negotiations with Israel, stressing that it has a "national and legal" right to confront the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.

The Palestinian group responded on Saturday to recent remarks purportedly made by United States President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, during a meeting with relatives of Israeli captives held in Gaza.

Citing a recording of the talks, Israeli news outlet Haaretz reported that the US envoy told the families that Hamas said it was "prepared to be demilitarised".

But in a statement, Hamas said "the resistance and its weapons are a national and legal right as long ...