Ramallah [Palestine], April 22: Ismail Haniyeh, the chief of the political office of the Palestinian movement Hamas, said on Sunday he would like to see Russia, along with Egypt, Turkey and Qatar, among the guarantors of security for the Gaza Strip.
In early February, Turkish newspaper Sabah reported that Ankara was ready to be a security guarantor for Palestine through its military presence in the region. "Our demands remain in effect. We want Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, Russia and the UN to be guarantors," Haniyeh told A Haber channel.
Hamas would also like to see the United States among the guarantors, however, Israel stands strongly against it, the politician added. Haniyeh said that the US, which does not exert any pressure on Israel, is hindering the truce agreement from being concluded. Israel is only seeking the release of hostages and is not willing to sign a truce agreement, the politician added.
"All it [Israel] wants is to take back the prisoners and then restart the war in Gaza, and this is not possible. The Israeli army must completely withdraw from Gaza. Israel also does not want the displaced people to return to northern Gaza. It accepts a limited and gradual return. It is unacceptable," Haniyeh told the Anadolu news agency.
Israel also wants the US to take part in its military action against Iran, the politician said.
"[Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu does not want to end the war in Gaza. On the contrary, he wants to expand its framework for a regional war. Similarly, they want the Americans to be part of the military front against Iran, and a part of the military wing that serves Israel," he said.
Hamas is not insisting on unilateral rule of the enclave after the conflict but is capable of forming a government, Haniyeh said. "Gaza is governed by Palestinians. These are national issues. We will not allow the situation of Palestine in Gaza, the West Bank, or both to be regulated by occupiers or anyone else," he said.(Sputnik)
Source: Qatar Tribune