Hamas not to surrender weapons in return for reconstruction

Tehran, Feb 14, IRNA -- Palestinian resistance movement Hamas renewed its strong opposition to the idea of surrendering its weapons in exchange for Gaza reconstruction.

Senior Hamas leader Ismail Radwan said in a Friday sermon that his Movement totally rejects compromising on the resistance weapons and rejects the multiple pressures on Gaza Strip.

'We will not compromise on resistance weapons in return for the reconstruction of our homes', he said, according to the Palestinian Information Center.

Radwan also slammed the Zionist regime’s siege imposed on the Strip for the past eight years which significantly affected the various sectors and human life aspects.

A real humanitarian catastrophe is looming in Gaza after experiencing three consecutive wars, he said.

The senior Hamas leader condemned the continued Arab silence over the deteriorated humanitarian situation and multiple crises in Gaza including power outages, employee crisis, closure of border crossings, and the delay of reconstruction.

He pointed out that more than 10,000 patients and injured persons are still waiting for the permission to cross the border to receive treatment abroad.

On the other hand, Radwan said that the international community turns a blind eye to the Israeli settlers’ systematic and daily break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque that aim to divide the holy shrine temporally and spatially.

'We call on the Palestinian resistance to defend al-Aqsa Mosque with all possible means,' he urged.