GAZA CITY: A senior Hamas leader said on Thursday the group was willing to talk directly to Israel, reversing a previous ban.

In an interview with Al Quds TV, Musa Abu Marzouk, the deputy chief of Hamas, said: “Hamas is willing to talk directly to the Israelis” over issues including Gaza border crossings and prisoner releases”.

“Just as you negotiate with weapons you can also negotiate by talk,” he said in the interview. “Up till now our policy was no negotiation with (Israel), but others should be aware that this issue is not taboo.”

His comments came two weeks after the end of a bloody war in the Gaza Strip, which Hamas has run since 2007. Over the weekend the group came in for criticism from Western-backed Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, putting further pressure on it after the heavy losses it sustained during the fighting.

Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said he would not comment until Abu Marzouk’s remarks were broadcast. Israel has consistently said it will not talk directly to Hamas until the militant group recognises its right to exist.

During the interview Abu Marzouk gave no indication that Hamas was considering taking such steps.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2014