Haniyeh: Turkey-Egypt rapprochement serves Palestine

Head of Hamas Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh welcomed rapprochement between Turkey and Egypt, stressing it serves Palestine, as any disagreement between Arab and Muslim states negatively affects Palestinian cause.

“We welcome the Turkish-Egyptian rapprochement and believe that reaching more understandings between them and among Arab and Muslim nations will positively affect us in Palestine and the Arab states,” Haniyeh said in an interview with Anadolu Agency.

However, Haniyeh added, any disagreement between Arab and Muslim states has “negative implications on the Arab and Muslim resources, the future of peoples, and the Palestinian cause.”

Turkish and Egyptian officials have recently made comments about their bilateral ties as both countries have adopted stances that imply an imminent improvement in their relationship.

National consensus government

Haniyeh stressed that his movement is committed to forming a national consensus government even if it secured a victory in the May parliamentary election.

“Hamas wants to participate in the elections on the basis of partnership and doesn’t want to dominate the Palestinian political system,” Haniyeh said.

In mid-January, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a presidential decree setting the dates for the Palestinian elections.

Entry point to end division

Haniyeh said holding the elections is “important as it may give a lift for the current Palestinian situation.”

“These elections are an entry point to end the 15-year-long division and rebuild the Palestinian political system on the basis of partnership among everyone,” Haniyeh added.

Hamas’ electoral list

As for the list submitted by Hamas for parliament, Haniyeh said that it carries “significant messages and symbols about Jerusalem and Palestinian martyrs and detainees.”

“We carefully choose the name “Al-Quds is Our Destiny” to confirm that Jerusalem is our compass, capital, and honour,” Haniyeh demonstrated.

Postponing elections

Commenting on the possibility of postponing the Palestinian elections due to external pressures, Haniyeh hoped that the elections would take place as agreed.

“I realise that there are challenges and pressures from some parties and attempts, particularly by the Israeli occupation, to disrupt the elections,” Haniyeh continued.

Regarding his movement’s reaction if the elections were postponed or cancelled, Haniyeh said that Hamas would then discuss such development and “take the needed decision in this regard.”

In a televised interview last week, Jibril al-Rijoub, member of the Fatah Central Committee, said that there are Israeli “and even regional and Arab” pressures to cancel the elections and that President Abbas refused to cave in.

‘Israeli occupation in trouble’

The Israeli occupation is in a “real trouble” as parties cannot form a government after four rounds of elections in two years, Haniyeh said.

Haniyeh pointed out that the Israeli election result indicted that Israeli society has become extremist and embraced the far right, adding: “All Israeli segments don’t recognise the Palestinian people and their rights—not even the minimum of Palestinian rights.”  

Concerning his movement’s stance on the latest Israeli election results, Haniyeh reaffirmed that Hamas does not count much on the Israeli occupation governments or the outcomes of Israeli elections.

“This internal affair has no effect on the political decisions or our strategic tendencies or domestic tactical positions,” Haniyeh added.

Positive regional developments

The Hamas chief said that he “positively” views the developments taking place in the region, especially after President Joe Biden took office last April.

Even though Hamas does not count on the current US administration, Haniyeh continued, “The political violence that characterised the Trump’s policy may not continue with the Biden administration.”

When asked about the reason for his optimism about the regional developments, Haniyeh cited several changes in the region including, the Gulf reconciliation, the Turkish-Egyptian rapprochement, settling the Libyan crisis, and talk of seeking an end to the Yemeni war.  

Normalisation with Israeli occupation

Haniyeh warned against the grave impact of normalisation of ties between Arab states and the Israeli occupation.

“The danger of normalisation is no secret for anyone,” Haniyeh noted.

The Hamas chief added that there is an attempt to exploit normalisation as a means to shape these nations’ policies and then pressure the Palestinians into accepting solutions that undermine their constant rights.

Despite its absolute rejection to normalisation, Hamas does not want to “turn the struggle from a Palestinian-Israeli one to a Palestinian conflict against these countries,” Haniyeh continued.