"Hamas advocates the liberation of all Palestine but is ready to support the state on 1967 borders," Meshaal said in a statement. According to the policy document, Hamas still will not formally recognize Israel as a state, but it is a softening of Hamas' position in the decades long dispute between Israel and Palestine.
Hamas will not be "ceding any rights" according to the new policy, Meshaal said.
Hamas is an Islamist group that has sought the destruction of the state of Israel. Under the new policy, Hamas will sever ties with the Muslim Brotherhood.
The move will likely help bolster ties with Arab nations including Egypt, which classifies the Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. Russia, Syria, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain have also categorized the Brotherhood as a terrorist group.
US President Donald Trump has said Jared Kushner is tasked with bringing about peace between Israel and Palestine in the Middle East. On Wednesday, Palenstinian President Mahmoud Abbas will arrive in Washington DC. This new policy could be a way to improve relations with the US as well if the Palestinian side shows it is making good faith efforts.
The document still contains rhetoric calling for "armed struggle" against Israel while denying Israel the right to exist as a nation.
According to an Israeli spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, "Hamas is attempting to fool the world but will not succeed." Hamas' attempts to become more moderate by ending ties with the Muslim Brotherhood is not "the real Hamas," the spokesman claimed. "They dig terror tunnels and have launched thousands upon thousands of missiles at Israeli civilians."
