Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh In Rare Interview On Palestinian Authority TV: We Would Need Unified National Leadership To Lead Popular Resistance That May Develop Into An Intifada

In a September 6, 2020 interview on Palestine TV (Palestinian Authority), Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh discussed the recent conference of the leaders of various Palestinian factions. He told the interviewer that he had emphasized at the conference that Hamas will not recognize Israel and that armed conflict is its strategic choice. He also said that Hamas is seeking a Palestinian-national "common denominator" that will lead to the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. In addition, Haniyeh said that a committee should be established to keep track of the development of resistance, and that there would need to be a unified national leadership to lead an intifada should one take place.

Ismail Haniyeh: "As you noticed at the Palestinian faction [leaders' conference], the various factions have different perspectives on their strategic vision. I made it known that [Hamas] would not recognize Israel, that we would not concede a single inch of the land of Palestine, and that armed struggle is our strategic choice. However, at this point we are seeking the Palestinian-national common denominator that will brin about the establishment of an independent and fully sovereign Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital and with the Right of Return. Another topic that was discussed at the conference and was included in its conclusions was the establishment of mechanisms to operate and monitor the committees that were mentioned in my speech, in the speeches of brother Abu Mazen, or in the speeches of the other [faction] leaders... There needs to be a committee to inspect the ways that popular resistance is developed – and it may turn into a popular Intifada – and in effect there needs to be a unified national leadership in the field that would lead this resistance."