Gaza City, May 5 (RHC)-- Hamas deputy leader Mussa Abu Marzuq says the Palestinian resistance movement will not recognize Israel, despite its recent unity deal with the Palestine Liberation Organization. At a news conference in Gaza City over the weekend, the Palestinian leader said that the Zionist state will never receive the recognition of Hamas.

On April 23rd, Hamas and the PLO, which includes Fatah Party, pledged to bury their differences and form a unity government. Under the long-awaited deal, Hamas and Fatah are to establish the unity government within five weeks and hold national elections six months later.

The Israeli regime reacted by canceling the so-called peace talks with the Palestinian Authority and threatening sanctions against it. Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the unity deal as a “blow to Israel.”

Meanwhile, a senior member of Fatah was to arrive in Gaza City on Monday to start consultations on forming a new government. Some 3,000 Palestinian police personnel are also expected to be transferred from the West Bank to the besieged Gaza Strip as part of the unity deal between the Palestinian groups.