Senior Hamas leader discusses Iran, Syria, Palestinian politics
Senior Hamas figure Mahmoud al-Zahar tells Al-Monitor’s Palestine Pulse that Hamas is "ready at any moment" to resume reconciliation talks with Fatah.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Mahmoud al-Zahar, a senior Hamas leader, downplayed media reports of an internal rift within the Islamist movement in an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor.
“Mahmoud al-Zahar is not an employee of Hamas, rather I have been a fixture in the movement for many years, and my positions are well-known,” Zahar said when asked about reports that some in Hamas were seeking his expulsion from the movement.
About the differences within Hamas, Zahar, who is described as one of Hamas’ hawks, said, “Some disputes could occur within the movement and are resolved by consultation.”
During the interview at his home in the Gaza Strip, Zahar said Hamas was keen to remain neutral in regional conflicts, including the Syrian civil war. “Hamas said it supports the will of the Syrian people, but did not claim that the regime needs to be brought down or fought,” he said.
