Hamas may have to talk directly with Israel, exiled leader says

Gaza City: Hamas’ exiled deputy leader said on Thursday that the group could be forced to negotiate directly with the Israeli regime, ahead of planned talks in Cairo to consolidate a truce.

But an Israeli minister dismissed any possibility of talking directly with the Islamist movement.

Hamas does not recognise the regime, and Israel denounces Hamas as a “terror” organisation, and the two sides have never had any direct contact.

Following weeks of indirect, Egyptian brokered negotiations, the Israelis and Hamas agreed to halt their fire in Gaza on August 26 after 50 days of war, their deadliest confrontation in years.

The indirect talks are set to resume mid-September to discuss longer-term issues.

Asked if Hamas would contemplate negotiating directly with the Israelis, Mousa Abu Marzuq, the movement’s exiled deputy leader, said it might be needed.

“If the situation remains as it is now... Hamas could find itself forced to do this,” he told the Palestinian Al Quds TV, referring to the dire humanitarian situation and continued blockade on Gaza.

Under terms of the truce deal, the Israelis pledged an immediate easing of restrictions on goods and construction materials being shipped in to Gaza, but so far, officials say there has been little change on the ground.

“From a legal [Islamic] perspective there is nothing wrong with negotiating with the occupation,” he said, indicating it could be necessary in order to guarantee the “rights” of the people of Gaza.

“Many of the issues that have been taboo within the movement could be up for discussion,” he said of Hamas’s historic refusal to negotiate with the Israelis.

But the regime’s Science Minister Yaakov Peri dismissed outright any possibility of negotiating directly with Hamas.

“As long as Hamas doesn’t abandon the path of violence and terrorism, recognise Israel and the Quartet conditions, Israel will not conduct direct talks with this terrorist organisation,” Peri told public radio.

The conditions of the Middle East Quartet include recognising Israel, renouncing violence and respecting past agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

“We will conduct indirect talks with Hamas through Egypt, but will do so in different rooms,” Peri said describing the way the Gaza truce talks were run over the past two months.