An adviser to Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh dismissed remarks attributed to him by U.S. newspaper The Washington Post that Hamas, which rules Gaza since 2007, might recognise Israel as part of a deal to join the Palestine Liberation Organisation. Taher al-Nunu, Haniyeh’s media adviser, described the remarks attributed to him as “lies and devoid of truth.”
The Washington Post quoted al-Nunu as saying that the group did not rule out the possibility of recognising Israel. Yet, any such move would have to be discussed “as part of Hamas’s efforts to join the PLO and form a government,” the paper quoted him as saying. However, al-Nunu said that recognition of Israel is out of question for Hamas or the Gaza government. “This issue is out of discussion for Hamas. It is not and will never be on the table,” he added.