(Reuters) – A leading figure in the Palestinian Hamas organization revealed its willingness to initiate contact and engage in discussions with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, as reported by Russia’s RIA state news agency in an article published early on Wednesday. According to RIA, Mousa Abu Marzouk, a senior member of the Hamas Politburo, stated, “We are prepared for contact and discussions with the Trump administration.” Marzouk emphasized, “Historically, we have not opposed engaging with the administrations of (former U.S. President Joe) Biden, Trump, or any other U.S. administration, and we are receptive to discussions with all international entities.” The timing of RIA’s interview with Marzouk, who was in Moscow on Monday for talks with the Russian foreign ministry, was not disclosed.
On Tuesday, Trump asserted that the United States would assume control of the war-torn Gaza Strip following the relocation of Palestinians and its economic development, a significant departure from long-standing U.S. policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Marzouk conveyed to RIA that engaging in dialogue with the U.S. has become imperative for Hamas, given Washington’s influential role in the Middle East. “Hence, we view discussions with the Americans in a favorable light and harbor no objections to this prospect,” he elaborated.
(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Stephen Coates)
