Al-Arouri said that the US administration had violated all international laws and conventions by taking such a decision.

Al-Arouri stressed that the US stance towards zionist settlement would not "change the truth" as the West Bank is a Palestinian territory.

As for the "deal of the century", al-Arouri said that the US plan is bound to fail, noting that it "has lost its strategic effect on the ground; thanks to the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their unified position." 

Commenting on the latest zionist aggression against Gaza, al-Arouri said that the Palestinian resistance "has taught the zionist occupation an important lesson in response to the assassination of Baha Abu al-Ata." 

Palestinian elections

Al-Arouri stressed that the election is the best path to manage the public Palestinian affairs, noting that his movement "wants fair and transparent elections as a way out of the national impasse." 

Regarding the written response on Hamas position on Palestinian elections, al-Arouri said that the written letter is ready and that his movement is waiting for Hanna Nasser, head of the Central Election Commission, to carry it to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Al-Arouri called for granting members of the current Legislative Council their rights before holding elections.

Prisoner swap deal

Al-Arouri pointed out that efforts had been exerted to hammer out a new prisoner swap deal, but the zionist occupation "isn’t serious" about restoring its captive soldiers.

The senior Hamas official called for an immediate release of all Palestinian detainees who were rearrested after being freed in the Wafa al-Ahrar deal.

Palestinians held in Saudi Arabia

Al-Arouri regretted that a number of Palestinians are still held in Saudi prisons, calling on the Saudi authorities to release all Palestinians held in its jails.  

As for Hamas relations with Arab and Islamic states, al-Arouri said that his movement is open-minded and ready to build ties with any Arab or Islamic body. (ILKHA)