Hamas Leader Calls for Extraordinary Steps in Dealing with Israel
Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political bureau, addressed Palestinian factions in Egypt today, highlighting the need for extraordinary measures in the struggle against Israel. Haniyeh stated that the Israeli government aims to resolve the conflict through terrorist attacks on the Palestinian people and the initiation of a religious war. He further argued that the peace process has reached a dead end, allowing Israel to transform Palestinian lands into ghettos and settlements over the past three decades.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss reconciliation efforts among various factions. Haniyeh emphasized the existence of a window of opportunity, citing internal divisions within Israel, strained international relations, and escalating opposition as factors to consider. He proposed the adoption of an effective national plan to counter the challenges posed by the current Israeli government.
Additionally, Haniyeh called for comprehensive resistance against Israel and the West Bank settlers, urging the removal of all obstacles and commitments that contradict the Palestinian people’s right to resist occupation. He emphasized the necessity of reconstructing and developing the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), establishing a new national council encompassing all factions, and setting up Palestinian institutions based on presidential and parliamentary elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The meeting, initiated by Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas), aimed to restore national unity and end the division between Hamas and Fatah. However, the Islamic Jihad organization boycotted the summit due to ongoing political arrests of their activists by the Palestinian Authority in Judea and Samaria. Despite the boycott, Khaled Al-Batsh, a senior member of Islamic Jihad, stated that the organization would respect the summit’s outcomes as long as they align with their national vision and the conflict against Israel’s annexation project.
While Hamas sought to showcase efforts toward healing the rift in Gaza, the Palestinian Authority aimed to demonstrate control to both its citizens and the international community. The summit’s discussions centered on ways to achieve national unity, with the hope of achieving successful reconciliation after years of failed attempts.
The quest for unity among Palestinian factions remains a crucial challenge in the face of ongoing conflict and instability in the region.