Hamas' supreme leader says his group will not give up its weapons, a vow that is sure to complicate reconciliation talks with the rival Fatah movement.
In an interview with Egypt's private On TV, Ismail Haniyeh said Tuesday that his group has "the right to possess weapons and resist the occupation with all forms of resistance."
The fate of Hamas' large arsenal of rockets, mortar shells and automatic weapons is a major sticking point in the reconciliation talks that began on Monday.
Fatah's leader, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, says that all weapons must be under his control. He said Monday that he would not allow Hamas to act like Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group that operates freely in its country.
The sides are to begin negotiations next week in Cairo.
