A senior Hamas official in Iran on Monday hailed the recent decisions made by various countries to formally recognize Palestinian statehood as a "step in the right direction."
Khaled Qaddoumi, a representative of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Tehran, was speaking after a growing number of United Nations' member states recognized the State of Palestine at the just-concluded high-level general debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, amid rising global support for a two-state solution.
A group of European governments, including France and Belgium, announced their recognition of Palestine during a high-level UN meeting on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question last Monday. It came after Canada, Britain, Australia and Portugal made similar declarations the previous day.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said earlier in September that Israel is entering international "isolation" amid its nearly two-year offensive in the Gaza Strip which continues to draw wide condemnation.
In an interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN) in the Iranian capital on Monday, Qaddoumi welcomed the moves made by various countries to now recognize the State of Palestine.
"Actually, this is a very belated step, but it is a step in the right direction. Even Netanyahu had to say that he is isolated at the international level diplomatically, and this is a big achievement because of the sacrifices of our people over a century," he said.
Qaddoumi also highlighted the importance of allowing Palestinians to determine their own future and hopes the global community will support their quest for self-governance. He also expressed the wish for a peaceful future for all the people of Gaza.
"I hope that the blood of our people will be saved, the bloodshed will stop, the borders will be open, and they will be living their lives as any free nation in this world," he said.
Meanwhile, Hamas is reportedly reviewing a U.S.-backed proposal aimed at ending the war in the Gaza Strip which was put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump and accepted by Netanyahu as he visited the White House on Monday.
The Qatari prime minister and the head of Egypt's General Intelligence Service have presented the plan to Hamas negotiators, according to a Hamas source, with the Hamas side said to be studying it "positively and objectively."
Hamas hails recognition of Palestinian statehood as "step in right direction"
