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Hamas opposes French initiative for peace in Middle East

Xinhua, May 31, 2016 Adjust font size:

Islamic Hamas movement, which rules the Gaza Strip, announced Monday that it opposes the current French initiative for making peace in the Middle East.

Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman in Gaza said in an emailed press statement that the French initiative "is an attempt of distract the Palestinian people and a circumvent to their right of return."

The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and President Mahmoud Abbas supported the initiative, however, Abu Zuhri slammed Abbas for supporting it, adding "his (Abbas) support to the initiative in individual and unilateral."

"Abbas decision to support the initiative never represent the Palestinian people and doesn't enjoy a full Palestinian consensus," said Abu Zuhri, that his movement basically opposes the peace process in the Middle East.

On June 3, France will host a ministerial meeting that is scheduled to be attended by U.S. Secretary of States John Kerry, and aims at preparing for holding an international conference for peace in the Middle East.

The Palestinians and the Israelis were not invited to the meeting. However, European and Arab foreign ministers will attend the meeting. Endit