Hamas says any international force in Gaza would be considered occupation

Statements by Hamas come as response to reports that the Israeli Foreign Ministry had called for international troops in Gaza.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) troops move through Israel’s Golan Heights before crossing into Syria, August 31. (photo credit: REUTERS/BAZ RATNER)
UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) troops move through Israel’s Golan Heights before crossing into Syria, August 31.
(photo credit: REUTERS/BAZ RATNER)
Hamas warned on Sunday against any plan to deploy international troops in the Gaza Strip.
The warning came in response to reports that the Foreign Ministry has prepared a plan that calls for deploying such troops in the Gaza Strip.
According to the report, which was published by Ha’aretz, the international troops would be tasked with supervising the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and disarmament of terror groups there.
“Hamas will deal with any international troops as a new occupation force,” Hamas representative Ismail Radwan said. “The international parties should work toward lifting the siege and occupation instead of talking about the weapons of the resistance.”
Radwan said that the weapons of the “resistance are sacred and are there to defend the Palestinians.”
He claimed that Israel was trying to use an international force to obtain what it failed to achieve during Operation Protective Edge. “The Palestinians are opposed to international intervention,” he added.
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