'Israel should not maintain any ties with Hamas'

Senior IDF officers say Israel should not conduct negotiations or maintain any ties with Hamas, even via international organizations, because an association with Israel would only strengthen Hamas and lend it legitimacy, Israel Radio reported Thursday. The IDF source reiterated that Israel should not provide humanitarian aid through the Red Cross, which would in turn funnel it through Hamas, but rather should find a way to transfer the aid directly to Gaza, where the Islamic group would distribute it without coming into contact with Israeli or international authorities.