Senior Hamas official Muhamad Nazal said Thursday that the terror group intends to continue to arm itself, despite efforts to stop the flow of weapons into Gaza. Nazal was speaking in Turkey, against a backdrop of talks between Hamas and Egyptian officials to finalize a long-term truce in the Gaza area, as well as word that Egyptian police had arrested smugglers and intercepted goods worth a million dollars.

Egypt's efforts including increase the staffing of anti-smuggling forces in the Rafah border area. Referring to the negotiations, Nazal said "We told them we don't have the term "smuggled weapons". He added "The weapons were not smuggled. What was smuggled were portable telephones and things that you're not allowed to smuggle, but arms are our right.