Gaza City – A senior Hamas leader says the group is willing to talk directly to Israel, reversing a previous ban.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
In an interview with Al Quds TV to be broadcast later Thursday, Hamas No. 2 Musa Abu Marzouk says “Hamas is willing to talk directly to the Israelis” over issues including Gaza border crossings and prisoner releases.
The Associated Press obtained a tape of the interview.
His comments come two weeks after the end of a bloody war in the Gaza Strip, which Hamas has run since 2007. Over the weekend the group came in for criticism from Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, putting further pressure on it after the heavy losses it sustained during the fighting.
Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said he would not comment until Marzouk’s remarks are broadcast.
Israel doesn’t talk to animals, especially those who hunt Israelis to kill them. There should be no interest on Israel’s part to talk to them at all.
Next step- change your charter. Hopefully that won’t take another 50 years.