Is Hamas open to direct negotiations with Israel?
Hamas leaders say the movement is not against negotiating directly with Israel, but is wary given Israel's failure to abide by its previous agreements with the Palestinians.
GAZA CITY — Amid the difficult political and financial situation facing Hamas, voices began to emerge within the movement in May 2015, calling for direct negotiations with Israel to avoid conditions being set by middlemen and the latter’s inability to compel Israel to abide by any agreement.
Hamas does not object to direct negotiations with Israel from a religious or ideological point of view. Inside Israeli prisons, long-standing negotiations have been undertaken between Palestinian prisoners and the Israeli Prison Service. These are ongoing on a daily basis to secure the rights of prisoners to education, medical treatment and visits by families and to calm tensions.
