Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Hamas rejects Money for Weapon swap

July 28, 2020

A top official of the Islamic Hamas Movement said that it rejected $15 billion for dismantling arms, according to a news report.

“Hamas rejected a proposal of carrying out several economic projects, including an airport and a seaport in Gaza for dismantling the arms of the movement and changing its strategies towards Israel,” Ismail Haniyeh said on Monday.

Haniyeh, who had left the Gaza Strip 10 months ago and is currently in Doha, made his remarks to the Qatari news website Lusail.

The top Hamas leader said that the US made the offer through a third mediator that he didn’t name, adding that the proposal was part of President Donald Trump’s Mideast peace plan.

“The American plan is aiming at establishing an isolated Palestinian entity in the Gaza Strip,” Haniyeh said, adding that a third party “came to us and made the offer, but we rejected it”.

Hamas had seized control of the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2007 following weeks of internal fighting with the security forces of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

All mediations made between the Islamic movement and the Fatah movement of President Abbas to end more than 13 years of internal division have so far failed.

In March 2018, then Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah survived an explosion when his convoy entered Gaza, an incident that Abbas blamed on Hamas.

“Hamas will not give up the land of Palestine and will never hand over its arms or stop the resistance or abandon the right of return,” said Haniyeh, adding that it will never sell Jerusalem for money.

In the interview, Haniyeh said that more than 13 years of an Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip caused more than 45 percent of unemployed and high rates of poverty.

Also Read: Hamas, Fatah Unite Against Israel’s Annexation Attempt

Also Read: Fatah, Hamas To Iron Out Action Against Israel

 

Previous Story

Turkey to restart India flights

Next Story

Observe precautions during Eid: UAE

Latest from -Top News

Sisi, MBZ cement ties

UAE and Egypt bolster ties through high-level talks in Abu Dhabi and a landmark cardiac care initiative delivering lifesaving treatment to rural

70,000 Gaza kids starve

WFP warned that any further escalation of conflict could paralyse relief operations altogether, deepening the plight of civilians—especially children, the elderly, and

Prayers on the Mount

The Day of Arafat, considered the pinnacle of the Hajj pilgrimage, witnessed a congregation of believers from around the world As the

EID MUBARAK!

UAE marks Eid Al Adha with housing support, children’s gifts, pardons, and cultural celebrations, reflecting a national spirit of compassion, unity, and