Palestine

Mishaal: Netanyahu’s victory pushes for more Israeli extremism

KhaledMashaalHamasLeader06AP_large

Chairman of Hamas political bureau Khaled Mishaal says his movement will not stop resisting the Israeli occupation “as long as there is occupation, aggression, war and killing”.

He stressed that Hamas was “careful to respect international humanitarian law and to target only military targets”.

In an interview with BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen in Qatar, Mishaal said the results of Israel’s elections will further diminish hopes for peace.

Khaled Mishaal told the BBC the victory of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and its right-wing allies indicated there would be more extremism.

He said Hamas was not looking for any escalation, but would defend itself.

Mishaal condemned comparing Hamas to other Jihad parties such as the Islamic State and Qaeda, saying “This is not Islam”.

He said Palestinians have showed “flexibility, seriousness and keenness to achieve just and fair peace, but Israel killed the peace process”, blaming Netanyahu’s outgoing government.

Mishaal urged the international community to grant the Palestinians recognition at the United Nations, pointing to Netanyahu’s pledge not to allow it.

He affirmed, in conclusion, that the Palestinians refuse to recognize Israel as a Jewish State.

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