GAZA, (PIC)-- The Hamas Movement strongly denounced Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Abul Gheit's statements in which he revealed an Egyptian proposal to form a Palestinian unity government excluding Hamas so as the peace talks cannot be hampered, highlighting that it is impossible to ignore Hamas in any political process.

Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, underlined that Abul Gheit's statements confirm that he is against the legitimacy that Hamas gained in fair democratic elections recognized by the whole world, pointing out that Cairo has to clarify its position towards such statements.

Dr. Abu Zuhri also expressed his shock and dismay at Arab officials' desire to alienate Hamas politically, while western officials started to realize Hamas's importance in the Palestinian political process.

Commenting on the second item of the Egyptian plan tabled by Abul Gheit during a meeting held Friday with the council on foreign relations in Washington which stipulated the release of 400 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the Israeli soldier in custody, the spokesman explained that this issue has many details including that the Palestinian resistance demanded the release of 1,000 prisoners, 400 of them to be released in the first stage.

In response to Abul Gheit's statements in which he said that in case an agreement was reached between the PA and Israel, there would be a referendum on it, which if approved, Hamas would face pressure to surrender its weapons and engage in the political process, the spokesman rejected the idea of holding a referendum on any agreement with Israel. He explained that any agreement based on concessions on inalienable Palestinian rights and constants would not be put to referendum.

The spokesman pointed out in this regard that PA chief Mahmoud Abbas's term of office would expire at the end of 2008.

For its part, the caretaker government headed by premier Ismail Haneyya said Saturday that there was progress in the talks held during the last two days between a delegation of Hamas and Egyptian officials about the issues of lifting the siege and reaching a mutual calm with the Israeli occupation.

Taher Al-Nunu, the spokesman for the government, underscored that the Egyptians are waiting for an Israeli reply to their new proposal about a comprehensive, mutual and reciprocal calm including the issues of lifting the siege and opening the crossings, pointing out that the movement would never give the Israeli occupation a free truce.

The spokesman noted that the delegation of Hamas provided the Egyptian leadership with a reasonable vision for the management of the Rafah border crossing, highlighting that the resistance operations would continue as a natural retaliation to the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.