A new statement regarding the two-state solution in Palestine came from the political office of Hamas, which met with President Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul last weekend. Speaking to the American Associated Press agency, Hamas political bureau official Khalil al-Hayya said that the group is ready to sign a 5-year ceasefire agreement with Israel or to lay down arms and continue its existence as a political party if an independent Palestinian state is established on the 1967 borders.
TWO BASIC CONDITIONS
Al-Hayya said that “all the peoples who fought against the invaders turned into political parties after gaining their independence, and militia forces became the foundations of national armies” and added that the same scenario would apply to Hamas if an independent Palestinian state was established. For this, al-Hayya said that “a fully sovereign Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip within the borders of 1967 and the return of Palestinian refugees in accordance with international decisions” is essential, and also added that the group is working with Fatah to establish a single Palestinian government for Gaza and the West Bank. He stated that he wanted to join the Palestine Liberation Organization under his leadership.
‘THE SOLUTION IS IN CONSENSUS’
Arguing that Israel has neutralized at most 20 percent of Hamas’s capacity so far, al-Hayya pointed out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s goal of “completely eliminating Hamas” and said, “What will happen if they cannot destroy Hamas?” “The solution is compromise,” he said. Saying that Israel’s attempts to eliminate Hamas will fail to prevent armed uprisings of the Palestinians in the future, al-Hayya said: “Let’s say they destroy Hamas. “Are the Palestinian people gone?” he said.
NO RESPONSE FROM ISRAEL
Following Al-Hayya’s statements, there was no statement from Israel or the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. However, despite the pressure of the international community, the Israeli administration opposes the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in the region. It is a question mark how Israel will approach this proposal from Hamas, in an environment where ceasefire agreements are blocked because Hamas does not accept the condition of withdrawing all troops from the region. On the other hand, Hamas’s announcement of the 1967 borders is a signal of softening in the group’s approach to solving the Palestinian problem. Although Hamas’s leader at the time, Khalid Meshaal, said in 2017 that they would approve a Palestinian state to be established on the 1967 borders, the group largely prioritizes the goal of reaching the pre-1948 borders. The slogan “Free Palestine from river to sea”, expressing these borders, became the symbol of protests around the world after the October 7 attacks.
ICJ CLAIM FOR ARREST WARRANT FOR NETANYAHU
Israeli media wrote that the National Security Council is considering the possibility of issuing an international arrest warrant for Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Gallant and Chief of General Staff Halevi. Channel 13 reported, “According to information obtained by senior officials in Israel, there is a possibility that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague will issue an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, Gallant and Halevi.” It was reported that a number of urgent measures were approved at the meeting, including a political campaign at the international level, against a possible decision.
