Hamas Official Osama Hamdan: Macron Should Send Back The Skulls Of Algerians Kept In French Museums Before Talking About Human Rights; Abu Marzouk Was Misquoted – Hamas Will Never Recognize Israel

Osama Hamdan of the Hamas political bureau demanded in a December 14 address aired on Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar) that French President Emanuel Macron send back the skulls of Algerian "martyrs" held in French museums before he talks about freedom or human rights. He said that Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouq was misquoted saying that Hamas would consider recognizing Israel. Hamdan stated that Hamas will never recognize the legitimacy of the "Zionist entity" on any part of the land. He added: "This entity is temporary, and it will be destroyed."

Osama Hamdan: "The President of France, who speaks about freedom and human rights, should first send back the skulls of Algerian martyrs. These skulls are still kept in the museums of France. I cannot believe that someone in this day and age, keeps the skulls of the martyrs in museums, and then speaks about human rights. 

"[Hamas official] Dr. Mousa Abu Marzouk clarified in a statement that what had been attributed to him in an interview [with Al-Monitor] was inaccurate and not true.

"I would like to stress in no uncertain terms, that the position of Hamas was, and still is, not to recognize the legitimacy of the Zionist entity on any part of our land. This is an occupied land. The enemy is an occupier. Regardless of how long the occupation lasts, the violence of the occupation, its military machine, or its terrorism, it will never become legal or legitimate. According to international law, the Zionist entity is an occupying entity, despite the pressure of the U.S. and its allies to impose its existence.

"I am saying so everybody hears: This entity is temporary, and it will be destroyed, Allah willing. Perhaps the people who built it know this more than others. Therefore, whoever wants to build a strategy in this region should do this based on the assumption that this entity will be destroyed. People who think that striking an alliance with this entity could create some opportunities are deluding themselves, and perhaps if this entity falls, it will take with it those who are deluding themselves that it has any future in our region."