Sinwar: Calm can be reached without internal reconciliation
Speaking to journalists in Gaza, Hamas leader says the Palestinian people have the right to live in dignity at any cost; Sinwar stresses that calm in Gaza can be reached without intra-Palestinian reconciliation.
Speaking with journalists in Gaza, Sinwar added that Hamas has decided that the siege on the Palestinian people would end since the Palestinians have the right to live in dignity.
"So far there is no final version of the ceasefire agreement, only suggestions and ideas.
"Any punitive measures executed by the Palestinian Authority against Gaza will change the rules of the game and we will respond accordingly," Sinwar went on to say.
In recent days, Fatah leaders have expressed their stance in talks with the Egyptian intelligence about the reconciliation document formulated in order to reach an understanding with Hamas.
The terror organization is now expected to resume talks with Egypt to formulate a final version addressing the intra-Palestinian reconciliation and the ceasefire agreement with Israel.
Meanwhile, harsh accusations are being swapped between Hamas and Fatah's spokespersons, with both sides claiming the other one is delaying the reconciliation process.
Sinwar and other Hamas officials met with the leadership of local organizations in Gaza in order to coordinate positions ahead of their departure to Cairo to resume negotiations talks.
"Hamas aims to back the (Palestinian) people that stands with the resistance and will not rest until Gaza's residents live in dignity, no matter the price," Sinwar asserted.
"We've submitted several proposals regarding the captive Israeli soldiers and there will be progress on that matter shortly, alongside the calm (to be achieved between Israel and Gaza). However, the two issues don't depend on one another," Hamas leader elaborated.
"In two months it will be possible to restore calm in the Gaza Strip—and Egypt has expressed its willingness to do so—even if an intra-Palestinian reconciliation is not reached," he elucidated.
According to Sinwar, the Egyptian intelligence delivered Fatah's latest response about the reconciliation to the Hamas delegation sent to Cairo and their "reaction was worse than before. Egypt is willing to continue investing efforts to reach calm in Gaza even if the (intra-Palestinian) reconciliation fails," Sinwar explained.
Speaking about the ongoing fighting with Israel, Sinwar said, "We do not seek a military confrontation, but at the same time we are not afraid of it."
"Hamas has prepared itself well in recent years, which could be seen in any future confrontation. The organization can launch all rockets launched during Operation Protective Edge in five minutes," he said.
Sinwar also addressed the scope of the strip's terror tunnels saying, "The number of tunnels has grown since the war, and the rockets are larger and more precise."
US envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt said, “The Trump administration strongly supports the efforts of President Al-Sisi and the Egyptian government to help facilitate an agreement to restore calm in Gaza and bring about the conditions for the Palestinian Authority to fully assume its responsibilities in Gaza."
Greenblatt also criticized the Palestinian Authority and said that it "cannot criticize from the sidelines. The Palestinian Authority should be part of the solution for the Palestinians of Gaza and Palestinians as a whole. If not, others will fill that void."
It was reported Wednesday that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spoke on the phone with Abdel Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil el-Sisi on Wednesday and discussed the recent reconciliation efforts regarding the internal Palestinian conflict.
"President al-Sisi stressed that Egypt continues to play its part as the sponsor of the reconciliation efforts, in order to strengthen the Palestinian national unity and the legitimacy of the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas," as reported by the official PA news agency.
In addition, Abbas thanked the Egyptian president for his support of the Palestinian people, and the two agreed to continue discussing the matter in the upcoming days.
