Speaking to Ma’an on Wednesday, Zahar, hinting at the possible political line of a future Palestinian unity cabinet, said that recognizing Israel would “preclude the right of the next generations to liberate the lands,” wondering: “What will be the fate of the five million Palestinians in the diaspora?”

The Gaza strongman went on to tell Ma’an that Hamas would be willing to recognize a Palestinian state “on any part of Palestine,” as opposed to the group’s proclaimed aim to form a state from “from the [Jordan] river to the [Mediterranean] sea.”

Zahar also referred to the future of Hamas’ military truce with Israel, confirming that the movement would continue to honor the cessation of fighting, following a joint decision made with its new Fatah partners. The Hamas leader, however, reiterated that the truce was “part of the resistance not its rejection,” adding that a “truce is not peace.”