"Hamas Official's Surprising Proposal: Recognizing Israel Amidst Tensions"

A senior Hamas official, Mousa Abu Marzouk, suggested that the organization would recognize Israel as a step towards ending the division between Palestinian factions, aligning with the official stance of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). This comes two months after a Hamas attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of over 260. Marzouk justified the attack but admitted that abducting women and children was a mistake. Hamas' political bureau chief, Ismail Haniyeh, expressed openness to discussing any initiative that could end Israeli aggression and lead to a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, emphasizing that any agreement must include Hamas.