Hamas announces policy change and recognition of Israel

The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas appears to be abandoning its long-standing radical policy that involved the complete destruction of the state of Israel, reports Reuters via Patria. 

The President of Hamas, Khaled Meshal, yesterday announced a new document in the Qatari capital Doha, which contains the policy that Hamas should implement in the coming period.

The document states that Hamas could abandon demands for the complete destruction of Israel and reject cooperation with the Muslim Brotherhood organization.

This will also include establishing friendly relations with many Gulf countries and Egypt, where the Muslim Brotherhood has been declared a terrorist organization.

Israel immediately reacted by saying that this is just Hamas's attempt to deceive the world, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who comes from the rival Fatah, is also unsure whether Hamas will change its long-standing policy.

The announcement of the document comes just two days before the scheduled meeting between Abbas and US President Donald Trump.

Hamas announced that abandoning the complete destruction of Israel does not mean abandoning the fight for an independent Palestine, but they are ready to recognize the 1967 borders.