Hamas Slams Palestinian Donors' Conference

The Islamic Hamas movement slammed Monday an international conference in Paris on aiding the Palestinian economy, saying the parley was being held to enhance Israeli security and did not focus on giving the Palestinian people their "legitimate rights."

"The conference, which is held under the title of supporting the establishment of the Palestinian state, is a security conference serving the security interests of of Israel," Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas spokesman in Gaza told reporters.

He said the conference, which is being attended by delegates from 90 countries and organizations, did not "support at all giving the Palestinian their legitimate rights. It is only held to give the Palestinians money in order to protect the security of Israel."

Another spokesman from the Islamist movement, Sami Abu Zuhri, said the Paris conference was "a declaration of war" against Hamas.

"The Palestinian people refuse to receive conditional donations," he said in a statement sent to journalists.