️BREAKING: Hamas Clarifies Gaza Management ArrangementsHamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem, in statements broadcast by Al-Aqsa TV:
We agreed to form a community support committee in Gaza that does not include Hamas.
We do not want to be part of the administrative arrangements in Gaza as long as they are achieved through national consensus.
We will not be an obstacle to any arrangements in Gaza as long as they have national consensus.
We are capable of reaching a Palestinian consensus approach with Arab support.
Translation:
Hamas is perfectly happy to delegate civic duties and governance to other parties, as long as this is democratically decided by Palestinians and not for Palestininans by others. What they are not willing to do, however, is give up their arms. Israel and the West have proven to be unreliable, even treacherous, diplomatic partners, so therefore armed resistance is the only way forward. Israel demands the disarmament and disbandment of Hamas, which is simply unacceptable because it would mean the complete annihilation of all Palestinians.
Mike
