Hamdan: Hamas will refuse any initiative that does not involve "Israeli" withdrawal

Source: nowlebanon.com, 10-01-2009

Hamas Representative in Lebanon Osama Hamdan told al-Manar television on Saturday that neither the Egyptian plan for a truce in Gaza nor other proposals could be a mechanism for the implementation of UNSCR 1860. "We will not accept any initiative that does not include the withdrawal of ‘Israeli' vehicles from our lands," he said.

Hamdan said that efforts should be made to confront "Israeli" aggression, prior to anything else. He said that Hamas would not accept the presence of international forces on Palestinian territory. Protection of the Palestinian people, he said, would be realized by expelling the "Israeli" occupying forces rather than deploying international forces to protect "Israel".

Hamdan said that "Israel" has entered a stalemate period, in which it cannot deepen its ground offensive or retreat because this would mean a political loss.
Hamdan said that those keen to protect the Palestinian people should take immediate action to stop "Israeli" aggression. "This aggression will not stop except through resistance, instead of through surrender, undignified living and taking a neutral stance," he said.