CAIRO, December 14 (RIA Novosti) - Islamist movement Hamas will not recognize the state of Israel and will not end armed resistance, Hamas said in a statement Friday on the 20th anniversary of its establishment.
"Palestine is an Islamic, Arab territory, and no inch of this land should be surrendered," the statement posted on the movement's website said, stressing that Hamas will never recognize Palestinian-Israeli agreements on coexistence of the Jewish and Palestinian states.
"We will continue resistance until victory over our enemies," Hamas said.
Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip from the pro-presidential Fatah movement in June after violent clashes between the two groups.
Hamas says its main aim is the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state with the capital in Jerusalem.
