Hamas presents new charter accepting a Palestine based on 1967 borders

Hamas has unveiled a new political programme softening its stance on Israel by accepting the idea of a Palestinian state in territories occupied by Israel in the six-day war of 1967.

A policy paper released in Doha by Khaled Meshaal, the head of Hamas’ political bureau, described the creation of an interim Palestinian state in the 1967 lines — the cornerstone of the two-decade-old peace process supported by Mahmoud Abbas’s Palestinian Authority — as “a formula for national consensus”.

The new document also states the Islamist movement it is not seeking war with the Jewish people – only with Zionism that drives the occupation of Palestine. It insists that Hamas is a not a revolutionary force that seeks to intervene in other countries.

“Hamas advocates the liberation of all of Palestine but is ready to support the state on 1967 borders without recognising Israel or ceding any rights,” Meshaal said.

The move comes just two days before a White House meeting between Donald Trump and Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah movement remains at odds with Hamas.

But according to diplomatic sources, the new document has been in preparation for years and has been the subject of intense debate between the various Hamas factions in Gaza, in exile and in prison.

Although it does not explicitly supplant the previous charter of the founding fathers, seen by many as racist, it is being described by those seeking to help Hamas toward a more peaceful path as the contemporary summary of Hamas beliefs and aims.

Israel’s government rejected the shift in rhetoric, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netany claiming that Hamas was “attempting to fool the world”.

“Daily, Hamas leaders call for genocide of all Jews and the destruction of Israel,” said David Keyes, spokesman for Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister. “They dig terror tunnels and have launched thousands upon thousands of missiles at Israeli civilians.”

Ed Royce, the chair of the House foreign relations committee, said: “Until Hamas recognises Israel’s right to exist, its words are meaningless. I will see to it that Hamas remains designated a terrorist organisation as long as it continues to launch rocket attacks against Israeli civilians, remains an Iranian proxy, and engages in other acts that threaten the US and Israel.”