Abu Marzouk: Hamas will not yield to the Israeli extortion regarding the calm

Abu Marzouk: Hamas will not yield to the Israeli extortion regarding the calm

Dr. Mousa Abu Marzouk, the deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, stated Friday that his Movement would never yield to the Israeli blackmail regarding the truce, highlighting that the release of the Israeli captive soldier Gilad Shalit must only be within a swap deal ensuring the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.


Dr. Abu Marzouk underlined that Israel insists on opening the crossings partially by 75 percent until the release of Shalit despite the Movement”s rejection of linking between the calm issue and the prisoners” swap deal.


The Hamas leader pointed out that this intransigence and the unacceptable conditions Israel tried to impose made the Hamas delegation leave Cairo without giving a final answer regarding the truce, adding that the delegation handed the Egyptian side several questions regarding the Israeli proposals especially the 75 percent and would return later to receive the reply.


Abu Marzouk stressed that Israel cannot extort anything from the Movement through its threat to wage another war on the Gaza Strip or assassinate its leaders, adding that the Movement would cling to its positions until the Palestinian people get their rights


Regarding the presence of international observers at the crossings, he said that this proposal was tabled by the Egyptians and was approved by the Movement but was rejected by Israel.


“How the Palestinian people can live if the Zionists do not want to open the crossings and break the siege, and at the same time they destroy the tunnels and subject the people to a crippling blockade under and above the ground,” the Hamas leader noted.


As for rumors about disagreement between Hamas leaders at home and abroad, Abu Marzouk said that the Movement takes its decisions in accordance with specific mechanisms and spreading such rumors is a waste of time.