“Hamas is running a complicated battle with the Israeli occupation” head of Hamas’s political bureau Ismail Haneyya said adding that each round of fighting undergoes a comprehensive assessment.
In an interview with al-Jazeera satellite channel late on Sunday evening Haneyya affirmed that the Palestinian resistance scored a victory against the Israeli occupation’s strategy of deterrence and caused great damage to its economy during the “Sword of Jerusalem” battle.
As a result of last May’s battle Haneyya continued the Palestinian resistance in Gaza imposed new rules of engagement and proved that it would not be isolated from any major development in the Palestinian arena especially with regard to Jerusalem Palestinian detainees settlement expansion and Palestinian refugees.
When he was asked if he anticipated a new war on Gaza in the future Haneyya said that “the American strategy now is based on calming down all fronts in the region” but noted that “Hamas always expects the worst from the Israeli occupation.”
The Hamas leader stressed that “Hamas is not fighting a proxy war” and that the Palestinian resistance only fights the Israeli occupation on the Palestinian land.
Speaking about his Movement’s relationship with Iran Haneyya said that Hamas adopts a strategy of openness to all parties pointing out that Iran backs the resistance movements in Palestine and all the resistance groups fighting the Israeli occupation.
Haneyya cited several reasons for Iran’s support for Hamas including the religious importance of the Palestinian cause and Jerusalem to Iran and the fact that the Israeli occupation is a mutual enemy.
The Hamas leader denied any disagreements within his Movement and said that Hamas has constants and a strategy agreed upon by all its officials at home and abroad.
He also stressed Hamas’s keenness on protecting the Palestinian people against any sectarian conflict.
As for his Movement’s ties with Saudi Arabia Haneyya applauded the historical role of Saudi Arabia in supporting the Palestinian people and their national cause and said that Hamas was shocked by the detention of its members and officials in the Kingdom.
He revealed that he sent letters in this regard to the Saudi monarch and the crown prince to urge them to release the detainees.
He also affirmed that his Movement needs and welcomes any unconditional Arab Islamic and international support at any level and that its relations with countries cannot be at the expense of others.
Describing his Movement’s relationship with Egypt as “stable and good” Haneyya said that Hamas is keen on maintaining close ties with Cairo which he also described as “a cornerstone of its political relations.”
Haneyya also talked about Britain’s recent designation of Hamas as a “terrorist organization” and condemned the step as “another sin added to its first one” – the Balfour Declaration – calling on the British government to backtrack on this move which he said came in response to Israeli pressures.
As for the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails he confirmed that his Movement is capable of forcing the Israeli occupation to accept a new prisoner swap deal and release Palestinian detainees including the six who escaped from the Gilboa prison last September (but were later recaptured by Israel).
