Details of the political agreement were believed to be limited to the unity government, rather than committing the Hamas movement more broadly to its terms.

The wider Hamas movement also serves as a charity organization and provides services to Palestinians.

The Hamas movement will not work against the interests of any other country, and any agreement can be concluded, whether we like it or not.

The Hamas movement took responsibility for that attack.

It is also considered a major stronghold of the Hamas movement.

In the last few days, spokesmen for the Hamas movement have repeatedly indicated that they will express their opposition politically rather than by force.

But to demand that he crack down on the Hamas political movement is to ask him to launch a Palestinian civil war.

"The principles of the Hamas movement command us not to lose Palestinian blood without revenge."

And they say they will not interfere with armed attacks by the militant Hamas movement.

Leaders of the Hamas movement have used the same argument to pursue suicide bombings.