GAZA (PIC)– The Hamas Movement has categorically denied that it was ready to recognize the Hebrew state in the event it agreed to negotiate with Hamas members stressing that Hamas would never give up Palestinian constants.
Dr. Ismail Redwan the Hamas spokesman in the Gaza Strip said in a telephone contact with the PIC on Wednesday that his Movement’s position in this regard was clear namely never accepting conditions of the international quartet committee which includes recognizing Israel among other dictates.
Asked whether Hamas was ready to recognize Israel in return for its withdrawal from all Palestinian lands occupied in 1967 he affirmed that Hamas had clearly offered a long truce in return for a full Israeli withdrawal from the 1967 occupied lands establishment of a Palestinian state release of all Palestinian captives and return of refugees but not recognizing the “Zionist entity”.
He said that media reports about Hamas’ acceptance to recognize Israel was meant to distort the Movement’s image affirming that Hamas was adamant on maintaining Palestinian constants regardless of siege and foreign and local pressures.
Redwan was commenting on media reports quoting Osama Al-Baz the political advisor to the Egyptian president as saying that Hamas was ready to recognize Israel in return for direct negotiations.
