Hamas' Hamdan says US election bares no effect on Gaza
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Hamas top official Ousama Hamdan underlines that regardless of who wins the US election, the situation in Gaza will not change.
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Hamas political official Osama Hamdan speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, August 13, 2024. (AP)
Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan confirmed Monday that recent talks between Hamas and Fatah in Egypt regarding Gaza governance were "positive and frank." This statement aligns with what a Palestinian source revealed to Al Mayadeen, describing Sunday's meeting on Gaza's management and coordination as constructive.
Speaking at a press conference, Hamdan shared that the talks addressed critical Palestinian national issues, with a focus on the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza and strategies to counter plans to occupy the strip.
The two parties also discussed forming a joint committee to oversee Gaza's needs, emphasizing that managing Palestinian affairs in Gaza, the West Bank, and the diaspora should be an exclusively Palestinian matter, achieved through national consensus.
Hamdan noted that meetings between Hamas, Fatah, and other Palestinian factions would continue in an effort to reach solutions that support the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza.
He also mentioned that Hamas is engaging with national, regional, and international partners to mobilize efforts to end the aggression on Gaza. "The movement is open to proposals that ensure a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces," he said.
Pressure on the 'rogue state'
Reaffirming Hamas' stance, Hamdan stressed that the key to the return of Israeli prisoners in Gaza and halting the war lies in adhering to the agreement reached in June. He held Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responsible for the potential deaths of more Israeli prisoners due to the actions of the Israeli military.
In his address, Hamdan called for increased pressure on Netanyahu to prevent him from blocking agreements, asserting that the Israeli prime minister bears full responsibility for hindering mediators' efforts.
He criticized the Israeli occupation's defiance of international law, describing it as a "rogue state" and called for its expulsion from the United Nations, asserting that regional stability and international peace demand such a step.
Regarding the US presidential election set for Tuesday and its potential impact on the wars on Gaza and Lebanon, Hamdan said, "Regardless of the US election results, they do not concern Hamas or the Palestinian people." He described both previous and current US administrations as partners in supporting Israeli aggression against Palestinians.
Hamdan urged the incoming US administration to "heed the growing voices within American society rejecting Israeli occupation and aggression" and to "stop obstructing international efforts to condemn the occupation and recognize our people's legitimate rights."
Talks progressing
An exclusive Palestinian source speaking to Al Mayadeen had revealed that recent discussions in Cairo between Fatah and Hamas regarding the governance of Gaza have shown positive developments.
According to the source, both sides have made significant progress in outlining the general principles for a new administrative framework in Gaza.
However, several contentious issues persist in the finer details, indicating that further negotiation and clarification are still needed.
The source detailed that Hamas has shown support for an administration made up of professional and competent individuals who would coordinate closely with the government in Ramallah. Fatah, on the other hand, prefers that this committee be formally affiliated with the government.
Furthermore, the source indicated that Egypt is expected to advocate for this governance framework among international and regional stakeholders.
On Saturday night, a member of Fatah's Central Committee, Abbas Zaki, told Al Mayadeen that discussions between Fatah and Hamas, the two leading Palestinian political factions, on cooperation have "matured".
Zaki spoke to Al Mayadeen following a series of high-level talks between Palestinian factions, the most recent of which took place in Cairo.
The Fatah official said the cooperation between the two parties "cuts off the path for those who want to impose guardianship on the Palestinian people," referring to talks of other states influencing civilians or military affairs in the Gaza Strip.
Noting that all proposed solutions for the Gaza Strip remain "unclear", Zaki stressed that Palestinian factions, including Fatah, Hamas, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, remain a "single unit".
