Hamas rubbishes Kerry's talk of sanctions
Following John Kerry's mention of US cooperation with Israel to enforce sanctions against Hamas, a leader in the movement tells al-Araby that Washington continues its 'double standards'.
2 min read
The US classifies Hamas as a terrorist organisation [Getty]
On Wednesday, US secretary John Kerry gave a speech alluding to US-Israel cooperation in enforcing sanctions against Hamas.
"In fact, we have established an unprecedented level of cooperation with Israel on military and intelligence issues", he said.
"We are coordinating in enforcing sanctions and in trying to stop terrorist organisations such as Hamas and Hizballah from getting the financing and the weapons that they seek."
But Hamas leader Mushir al-Masri told al-Araby's Arabic service that the position expressed by Kerry demonstrated "US policy will not depart from the blatant bias towards the Zionist enemy" - adding that Washington's policy still showed a "double standard", and "supports the executioner against the victim".
"Washington represents the other face of Israel, unfortunately Israel uses it as a tool to legitimise its crimes against Palestinians in an attempt to improve its disgusting image," he said.
"As the US has classified Hamas as a terrorist organisation it should do the same with Israel."
Sami Abu-Zuhri, Hamas spokesperson, said in a press statement that Kerry's remarks were "inhumane", and said that the US administration had given a green light to the continuation of Israeli war crimes, especially regarding extrajudicial executions.
"The US has tried its luck with the sanctions against Hamas and failed. They have had no effect on Hamas' popularity locally and its path of resistance," al-Masri said.
In December, an EU court ruled that Hamas should be removed from the European Union's terrorist list, saying the decision to include it was based on media reports not considered analysis.
However, last month, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US treasury listed put alleged Hamas financers on the sanctions list.
Kerry's comments come as clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces escalate in the West Bank.
Kerry is part of the peace Quartet who were reportedly involved in failed truce talks between Hamas and Israel in September.
"In fact, we have established an unprecedented level of cooperation with Israel on military and intelligence issues", he said.
"We are coordinating in enforcing sanctions and in trying to stop terrorist organisations such as Hamas and Hizballah from getting the financing and the weapons that they seek."
But Hamas leader Mushir al-Masri told al-Araby's Arabic service that the position expressed by Kerry demonstrated "US policy will not depart from the blatant bias towards the Zionist enemy" - adding that Washington's policy still showed a "double standard", and "supports the executioner against the victim".
"Washington represents the other face of Israel, unfortunately Israel uses it as a tool to legitimise its crimes against Palestinians in an attempt to improve its disgusting image," he said.
"As the US has classified Hamas as a terrorist organisation it should do the same with Israel."
Sami Abu-Zuhri, Hamas spokesperson, said in a press statement that Kerry's remarks were "inhumane", and said that the US administration had given a green light to the continuation of Israeli war crimes, especially regarding extrajudicial executions.
"The US has tried its luck with the sanctions against Hamas and failed. They have had no effect on Hamas' popularity locally and its path of resistance," al-Masri said.
In December, an EU court ruled that Hamas should be removed from the European Union's terrorist list, saying the decision to include it was based on media reports not considered analysis.
However, last month, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US treasury listed put alleged Hamas financers on the sanctions list.
Kerry's comments come as clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces escalate in the West Bank.
Kerry is part of the peace Quartet who were reportedly involved in failed truce talks between Hamas and Israel in September.
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