A Hamas leader confirms Gaza is not occupied by Israel. Haaretz’s Zvi Barel takes note of an overlooked, but highly significant remark:
“Gaza is not occupied, so why should Israel have any role [at the Gaza-Egypt border crossing] when it has no presence on the border between Egypt and Gaza?” argued Mohammed Nuseir, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, on Saturday.
First, it is the first time an official Hamas representative has explicitly stated that the Gaza Strip is no longer occupied. This means that Hamas will absolve Israel of responsibility for what happens there, as long as Israel no longer actually controls the Gaza-Egypt border.