Abu Marzouk: “Hamas Will Not Recognize Israel or Disarm Al-Qassam Brigades

“Hamas will not recognize Israel,” Mousa Abu Marzouk, deputy chairman of Hamas’ political bureau, told Al-Monitor in an interview. “This is a red line that cannot be crossed.”

He said the Quartet’s requirement that Hamas recognize Israel “does not concern us one bit.” “We would have spared ourselves seven years of misery under the siege and two wars in 2008 and 2012 had we wanted to recognize Israel.”

He also reiterated Hamas’ refusal to disarm the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. “The Quartet negotiations require that violence be renounced, which, in effect, means that the al-Qassam weapons must be decommissioned. But this is unacceptable, and Hamas will reject it outright.”

{Matzav.com Israel News Bureau}