Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 18) — Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza and launched a surprise attack on Israel, does not speak for all Palestinians, a Palestinian envoy said Wednesday.
“Hamas does not represent all Palestinians,” Palestinian Ambassdor to the Philippines Saleh Asa’ad Fhied Mohammad said on CNN Philippines’ Politics As Usual.
Mohammad pointed out that Hamas is not a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which formally represents all Palestinians.“Hamas is an independent organization with religious beliefs,” he said. “They are not part of the PLO but they are Palestinians. They are controlling Gaza Strip.Hamas fought against the Oslo Accords in 1993, a peace treaty between Israel and the PLO in which the PLO agreed to cease military struggle against Israel in exchange for an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. It is known as the two-state solution.
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“The public should be aware that we have agreed, we have recognized the right of Israel to exist and live peacefully alongside with us,” Mohammad said. “The two-state solution indicates very clearly — one state for already existing Israel and the second state to be born for Palestinians.”
“Israel continued denial of the implementation of all signed agreements — legitimacy decisions on Palestine, ’til today we still have this problem persisting,” he pointed out. “It’s an occupation. This is the ugliest face of civilization — occupation, the root of every problem. That’s why we have war again and again. Israel is refusing to withdraw.”
On Oct. 7, Hamas fired thousands of rockets toward Israeli towns before breaking through the border with Israel and sending militants deep into Israeli territory, killing civilians and soldiers and taking hundreds of hostages, including children.The group said its operation was a response to what it described as Israeli attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, and the ongoing siege of Gaza.
In response to the attack, Israel has declared war and dropped bombs on the densely inhabited Gaza, striking what it said are Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets.
“This is 75 continuous years of occupation. The world should shoulder its responsibility,” Mohammad said.
