A senior leader of Hamas stated that the organization was willing to engage in dialogue with the United States and credited then-U.S. President Donald Trump with “ending” the Gaza conflict.
“We’re prepared for a dialogue with America and achieving understandings on everything,” Mousa Abu Marzouk, who was based in Qatar, told The New York Times.
His remarks came on the heels of the release of three Israeli hostages, which marked the first step in a hostage-ceasefire agreement.
The report noted that it was unclear whether Abu Marzouk spoke on behalf of the entire Hamas leadership, particularly the more hardline leaders located in Gaza.
Abu Marzouk referred to Trump as a “serious president.”
“If not for President Trump, his insistence on ending the war, and his dispatching of a decisive representative, the deal wouldn’t have happened,” Abu Marzouk said, referencing Steve Witkoff, Trump’s newly appointed Mideast envoy.
“Truthfully, Trump gets the credit for ending the war,” he added.
Abu Marzouk also extended an invitation to Witkoff to visit Gaza.
“He can come and see the people and try to understand their feelings and wishes so that the American position can be based on the interests of all the parties, and not only one party,” Abu Marzouk said.
{Matzav.com Israel}