Resistance Slams Abbas’ Call for Talks as Surrender

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), the Islamic Jihad and the armed resistance factions rejected on Monday Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' call for holding dialogue to study the current deteriorated situation in the Gaza Strip.

Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas movement's spokesman in Gaza said in a statement sent to reporters that the movement "rejects Abbas call to hold a meeting to discuss the current situation in the Gaza Strip."

"Such meetings aim at convincing the Palestinian resistance to stop its responses to the ongoing Zionist crime committed against our people in the steadfast Gaza Strip," said Barhoum.

On Saturday, ‘Israel' began an unprecedented intensive military operation with intensive airstrikes on Hamas movement's targets allover the Gaza Strip, leaving more than 360 people killed and more than 1700 injured so far.

Mohamed Nazzal, a senior Hamas leader, based in Damascus said in a statement sent to reporters that "Hamas would never let them (Abbas) to use such meetings for political propaganda."

"Hamas doesn't oppose any dialogue, but it refuses to get back to the zero beginning," Nazzal said, adding "Abbas calls for dialogue are just slogans and there are no practical steps implemented on the ground," he said.

The Islamic Jihad said in a leaflet "we reject Abbas calls for dialogue, adding that instead of calling for dialogue to study the situation, he should support armed resistance against the Zionist occupation in the West Bank."

In a call with Al-Manar TV Channel, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zahri denied earlier reports saying that Hamas politburo Chief Khaled Mashaal has expressed the group's willing to sign a truce over Gaza if ‘Israel' agrees to a ceasefire and lifts its blockade.