Hamas Calls US Comments on Unity Deal 'Blatant Interference'
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Palestinian resistance movement Hamas accused the United States of "blatant interference" in Palestinian affairs Thursday after US President Donald Trump's envoy demanded they disarm and recognize Israel in any unity government.
"This is blatant interference in Palestinian affairs because it is the right of our people to choose its government according to their supreme strategic interests," senior Hamas official Bassem Naim told AFP.
The remarks came after Jason Greenblatt, Trump's special representative for international negotiations, said Thursday that an emerging Palestinian unity government must recognize Israel and disarm Hamas, following a landmark reconciliation deal signed last week.
"Any Palestinian government must unambiguously and explicitly commit to nonviolence, recognize the state of Israel, accept previous agreements and obligations between the parties -- including to disarm terrorists -- and commit to peaceful negotiations," Greenblatt said in a statement.
"If Hamas is to play any role in a Palestinian government, it must accept these basic requirements," he added in the first detailed US response to last week's Palestinian unity deal.
