In controversial statement, Borrell claims 'Israel' 'created' Hamas

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Jan 2024 05:44
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The European Union's top diplomat Josep Borrell claims "Hamas has been financed by the Israeli government to try to weaken the Palestinian Authority."

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell speaks during a joint press conference with the Guatemalan President-elect in Guatemala City on January 13, 2024. (AFP)

The European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said on Friday that the Israeli occupation "created" and "financed" Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas.

Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has in recent days reaffirmed his opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state, drawing criticism from his US ally, which is still advocating a "two-state solution."

"We believe that a two-state solution must be imposed from outside to bring peace. Although, I insist, Israel is reaffirming its refusal (of this solution), and to prevent it they have gone so far as to create Hamas themselves," Borrell claimed.

"Hamas has been financed by the Israeli government to try to weaken the Palestinian Authority," he added during a speech in Spanish at the University of Valladolid in central Spain.

Earlier, the EU's top diplomat reiterated the Israeli occupation's so-called "right to self-defense", condemning the Palestinian Resistance's Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, and expressing solidarity with "Israel", while failing to mention 75 years of occupation and atrocities committed by "Israel" against the Palestinian people.