The armed wing of Hamas, Qassam Brigades, has released a statement expressing surprise at reports that the assistant secretary-general of the Arab League, Hossam Zaki, has suggested that Hamas’s relinquishing power in Gaza would represent the interest of the Palestinian people, Al Jazeera reports.

“We have shown the utmost flexibility in formulating political and administrative approaches to managing the Gaza Strip during the various dialogues, especially with our brothers in Egypt, including agreeing to form a national consensus government,” Hamas said.

“We affirm that Hamas will continue to place the supreme interest of the Palestinian people at the heart of all its decisions related to the situation in the Gaza Strip after the war, within the framework of national consensus, and away from any interference by the occupation or the United States,” the statement read.

“We also call on the Arab League to support this position and not to allow the passage of any projects that would threaten the Arab national security system,” Hamas stated.