GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — On Sept. 17, Hamas issued a press release denouncing media outlets for attributing prominent member Ahmed Yousef’s positions to the movement. It confirmed that Yousef his personal views and his positions do not represent Hamas in any way.
Hamas’ official statement is the first to be issued against a leading official of the movement. It came following Yousef's article and press statements in which he spoke of Hamas’ internal elections and their timing, and revealed that Hamas had prepared a new political document that includes its positions on all aspects of the Palestinian cause, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and ties with Arab, Islamic and foreign countries.