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Hamas rejects Ban Ki-moon's remarks on Gaza tunnels

Xinhua, January 31, 2016 Adjust font size:

Islamic Hamas movement rejected on Sunday the remarks of the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the question of digging underground tunnels in the Gaza Strip.

Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said in an emailed press statement that Hamas rejects Ban's remarks on the tunnels of resistance, adding that "these tunnels are defensive to protect the Gaza Strip."

"Ban's statements contradicts the international law and show biased position in favor of the Israeli occupation," said Abu Zuhri.

In a statement delivered by his spokesperson, Ban said on Saturday that he was "alarmed" by the recent statements from the Hamas leadership in Gaza stating their intention to continue building tunnels and firing rockets at Israel.

"Such statements and actions put at risk reconstruction, humanitarian and development efforts by the international community and Palestinian and Israeli authorities," Ban said. "They also do a serious disservice to the long-suffering people of Gaza."

During a funeral for seven Hamas operatives who were killed when a tunnel they were digging had collapsed earlier this week, Ismail Haneya, Hamas deputy chief, vowed on Friday that Hamas will continue building its network of underground passages.

"The Hamas military wing will continue with its preparations both underground and above ground," Haneya said. "On land and at sea, we will not stop until the liberation of the holy places in Jerusalem."

Meanwhile, the premier of the Palestinian consensus government Rami Hamdallah called on Hamas movement "to positively react to the calls of forming a wider national unity government with the participation of all political powers."

Hamdallah told a local radio station in the West Bank city of Ramallah that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas provided Hamas an offer of forming a unity government for three months and then for general elections."

"President Abbas' offer is a historic opportunity for Hamas," Hamdallah said, adding that "I hope that Hamas would accept it immediately, and I'm ready to be a soldier in this government to serve my people." Endit