Al-Jazeera: Hamas clings to truce conditions

The leading figure in the Hamas Islamic Resistance movement, Hassan Youssef, refused to accept what was stated by certain media agencies on the position of the movement towards the truce with Israel.

In statements to al-Jazeera TV Youssef said he gave nothing new on this issue and that all what he had said is confirming the movement's position regarding the truce, previously confirmed by the spiritual leader of the movement Ahmad Yassin.

He explained that the movement does not oppose approving a long term truce with Israel, based on establishing a Palestinian state with the borders of the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel in 1967 as well as in Gaza, under the condition that Israel will restore back all rights of the Palestinian people especially their right to live free from aggression and ensuring the "right of return" to Palestinians in the Diaspora as well as releasing the prisoners and demolishing the wall of separation.

Youssef said that "the truce for us means that two conflicting sides living side by side peacefully and in security for a certain period of time but this period is viable to extension." Earlier, Hamas movement used to confirm its readiness to accept the foundation of a Palestinian state on the border of 1967 as a first step that the Palestinian state is to include later the lands occupied by Israel in 1948.

Certain media went far in explaining these statements which are considered the first of its kind since the demise of the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, as a concession from Hamas's side, especially as these statements came after officials in the Palestinian Authority confirmed that they had felt some changes in Hamas's positions after the death of Arafat.