Hamas published its official platform for the upcoming Palestinian elections, which proved to be more moderate than either its 1988 charter or public statements made by its leaders throughout the ensuing years.
The document makes no mention of the principle that has been Hamas' raison d'etre since its founding: the destruction of Israel and establishment of a Palestinian state on all territory west of the Jordan River in its place.
However, the document's introduction comes out strongly in favor of armed struggle.
‘Our nation is currently at a stage of national liberation, and it has the right to act to regain its rights and end the occupation by using all means, including armed resistance,’ it states. ‘We must use all means in order to support our people and establish a state whose capital is Jerusalem.’
Diplomatically, the platform does not differ substantially from that of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction, calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital - although it does not specify that such a state should be confined to the West Bank and Gaza.
The introduction also defines the refugees' ‘right of return’ to what is now Israel, as ‘an inalienable right about which no political concessions should be made.’
The introduction explains that Hamas decided to run in the elections, because it believes that this will contribute to ‘the liberation of Palestine, the return of the Palestinian people to its land and its homeland, and the establishment of an independent state whose capital is Jerusalem. Our participation in the elections strengthens and supports the resistance program and the intifada, which is the nation's preferred alternative for ending the occupation.’
It also states that Hamas views Palestine as ‘part of the Arab and Islamic territory, and an absolute Palestinian right that no legal or military means can alter.’