The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) denounced the statements of UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed, in which he called on Western countries to classify the movement as a terrorist organization.
Hamas said that bin Zayed's statements contradict the values of Arabism and all nationalist concepts, are consistent with Israeli propaganda, and clash with the orientations of the Arab public in support of the resistance in Palestine.
UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan incitement of Western countries to classify Hamas as a terrorist organization;
It contradicts the values of Arabism, contradicts all nationalist concepts, is consistent with the failed Zionist propaganda, and collides with the orientations of the Arab public in support of the resistance in Palestine.
— Hazem Qassem (@hazemaq) June 12, 2021
In an interview with the American Jewish Committee website, the UAE foreign minister had expressed his regret over the reluctance of some countries to classify entities such as Hamas, Hezbollah or the Muslim Brotherhood in a clearer way.
He found it funny that some governments classify only the military wing of an entity, and not the political wing, as terrorist, while the entity itself says that there is no difference.
The minister added that there is a need for what he described as strategic thinking between Israel and the Palestinians, expressing his hope that the "Abraham" agreement signed between the UAE and Israel will help inspire other countries in the region to reimagine the future, according to him.