Hamas senior official Mousa Abu Marzouk has retracted statements in which he hinted at his movement’s readiness to recognize Israel, asserting that the Palestinian group does not acknowledge the legitimacy of the occupation.
“I confirm that the Hamas movement does not recognize the legitimacy of the Israeli occupation, and does not accept giving up any of the rights of our Palestinian people,” said Marzouk in a statement distributed by Hamas.
“We affirm that the resistance will continue until liberation,” he added.
Marzouk had said in an interview with Al Monitor that Hamas “wants to be part” of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and respects its obligations.
The PLO, a coalition of Palestinian factions, recognized the state of Israel more than 30 years ago.
Respecting the principles and commitments of the region has been a longstanding point of contention for decades between the PLO and Hamas, which has consistently refused to adhere to the region’s commitments, as doing so entails recognizing Israel.
The PLO acknowledged Israel in 1993 as part of its efforts to establish a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders.
For a long time, Hamas rejected the idea of establishing a state along the 1967 borders.
However, its rhetoric has shifted in recent years, with the group now stating that it accepts such a state, albeit without recognizing Israel.
Marzouk affirmed that Hamas seeks to establish a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders.
“Israelis have rights, but not at the expense of others,” he said in the interview.
Marzouk’s retraction of his statement, a departure from typical Hamas rhetoric, was expected, as it challenged a fundamental principle of the movement.
But did Marzouk truly not mean what he said?
Observers see Hamas joining the PLO as a crucial move amid Gaza’s devastation by Israel and the US-Israel collaboration advocating “the day after the war without Hamas.”
Therefore , Marzouk’s statement may be seen as a trial balloon.
It came hours after Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh announced that the movement is open to discussing any initiatives that lead to a ceasefire in Gaza.
For decades, Hamas and the PLO remained at odds, and a series of agreements failed to alter the reality.
Hamas consistently refused to cede control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority, relinquish its governance, and disarm.
Conversely, the Palestinian Authority rejected incorporating Hamas into the PLO without genuine reconciliation.
Disputes persisted on all matters related to the PLO, including representation percentages, elections, its structure, program, commitments, and reform.
