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Hamas welcomes recognition support but reconciliation needed first, has borders and refugees fears


To discuss the decision of the Palestinian authority to ask for recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations, and the consequences of such a decision on a national and international level, euronews spoke to Mohammed Awad, Foreign Minister in the Hamas administration in the Gaza Strip.

Jamel Ezzedini, euronews: “Mr Awad, let’s begin with the position of Hamas, which refuses to go the United Nations to demand recognition of a Palestinian state. Why this refusal, and what are the guarantees that your organisation has brought to mind which the Palestinian authorites have missed?”

Mohammed Awad:

“Firstly I’d like to point out that it’s not a refusal, rather the clarification of a position. It’s the lot of the Palestinian people that’s being played with here.

We’re demanding that Palestine is a full member of the UN, and that also includes the position of the PLO and internal reconciliation. They are issues of the utmost importance for us and are central to the Palestinian cause. So to make a decision like that or take such a stance, you have to reassure yourself that all those questions have been taken into account.”

euronews: “International public opinion supports the establishment of a Palestinian state, so going to the security council to ask for recognition seems logical. And yet you say that recognition would mean abandoning the rights of the Palestinian people, and particularly the right of refugees to return. How do you explain that?”

Mohammed Awad:

“That’s a question for Mister Mahmoud Abbas. He’s the one who’s gone to seek recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN. He must explain to the Palestinian people how and why he took this decision so the people can take a position on it.

“We salute the efforts of all countries that support the Palestinian people and the idea of a Palestinian state and we encourage them to continue with that process.

“Concerning internal matters, we think that’s a question for Palestinians. We want to know with all certainty that joining the United Nations will not have any consequence on the right of refugees to return, so they can settle again in the historic Palestine, and not just in the framework of a Palestinian state.

euronews: “So you refuse the demand that the Palestinian Authority asks to be accepted as an observer member by the United Nations, without the same rights enjoyed by other members, in case the United States uses its veto in the vote?”

Mohammed Awad:

“We want to be a full member of the United Nations, and here on the ground we want a real Palestinian nation, not just a media event which could lose Palestinians their rights.” more

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