Senior Hamas leader discusses Iran, Syria, Palestinian politics
Senior Hamas figure Mahmoud al-Zahar tells Al-Monitor’s Palestine Pulse that Hamas is "ready at any moment" to resume reconciliation talks with Fatah.
![PALESTINIANS/ Senior Hamas leader Moussa Abu Marzouk (R) hugs senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Zahar in Gaza City April 21, 2014. Abu Marzouk arrived at the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip on Monday to take part in unity talks with rival Fatah movement of President Mahmoud Abbas, which are planned for Tuesday, Hamas officials said. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA - Tags: POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTR3M230](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2014/04/RTR3M230.jpg/RTR3M230.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=qDo3xLF4)
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Mahmoud al-Zahar, a senior Hamas leader, downplayed media reports of an internal rift within the Islamist movement in an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor.
“Mahmoud al-Zahar is not an employee of Hamas, rather I have been a fixture in the movement for many years, and my positions are well-known,” Zahar said when asked about reports that some in Hamas were seeking his expulsion from the movement.