Az-Ziq: Hamas opposition to UN bid a mistake

GAZA (Ma’an) -- Popular Resistance Campaign coordinator Mahmud Az-Ziq said Wednesday that Hamas had made a huge mistake by opposing the UN bid and banning activities in Gaza which support the campaign.

The UN bid is a national movement with implications that affect all the Palestinian people, a statement said, adding that the UN bid should not be viewed through a factional lens.

All political factions should stand together and support this national step, he added.

Az-Ziq noted that Hamas should consider the negative effect its position on the UN bid has for achieving political reconciliation.

A reconciliation deal was signed in Cairo on May 4 and set out a path for the creation of a transitional government of technocrats and an end to the animosity which has split the Palestinians into two camps since 2007.

Hamas on Sunday said it would not back a UN membership bid, and warned that no Palestinian leader had a mandate to sacrifice fundamental Palestinian rights.

"There is no mandate for any Palestinian leadership to infringe on Palestinian national rights, nor is there a mandate for any Palestinian actor to make historic concessions on Palestinian land or the right of the Palestinians, foremost among them the right of return," he warned.

"Given this position, we reiterate our rejection of this bid," he added.

Maan News Agency