"It’s not really rumors, we have clear evidence that yes, there is direct and indirect discussions that have been taking place between Israel and Hamas, also through third parties,” Maliki said at the UN International Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace hosted in Moscow.
The Palestinian top diplomat added, however, that the two sides are not seeking a two-state solution, but rather a trade of “truce for reconstruction.”
“But the intention is not to seek a two-state solution; the intention is to achieve truce in exchange for reconstruction. The Israelis are offering reconstruction of Gaza in exchange of truce from Hamas in Gaza. A truce that may take from 10 to 15 years," Maliki said.
Palestine seeks the creation of the independent state in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and in the Gaza Strip. Israel, in turn, has been constructing its settlements on the Palestinian territories.
In 2014, the UN Security Council was unable to pass a resolution to create the Palestinian state. However, almost 70 percent of UN member states support the Palestinian statehood.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict escalated again in July 2014 after Israel launched a military operation named Operation Protective Edge against Hamas forces in Gaza. The Gaza Strip suffered significant damage during Israel's 50-day military operation. Palestinian authorities estimate that over 60,000 residential buildings were ruined in the conflict.
