Hamas said Wednesday the governance of the Gaza Strip is a "pure Palestinian affair," in response to U.S. statements that the movement could not be part of the ruling equation in the enclave.
"Governing Gaza or part of our land is a Palestinian affair, and no force will be able to change reality or impose its will," Hamas spokesman Abdul-Latif al-Qanou said.
White House national security spokesman, John Kirby, said Tuesday that Hamas could not be part of the governance equation in Gaza.
"There needs to be a healthy set of conversations about what post-conflict Gaza looks like and what governance looks like," he added.
The Hamas spokesman termed Kirby's call for ejecting Hamas as a "pure imagination."
"Hamas is a national liberation movement and resides in every Palestinian home," al-Qanou said. "Hamas is an integral part of our people and has the right to resist the occupation in accordance with all laws and customs."
Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by Hamas a month ago.
At least 10,328 Palestinians, including 4,237 children and 2,719 women, have been killed since then. The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is nearly 1,600, according to official figures.
Besides the large number of casualties and massive displacements, basic supplies are running low for Gaza's 2.3 million residents due to the Israeli siege.
