Report: Irish FM hinted EU may need to be flexible on Hamas

Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin hinted on Monday that some kind of engagement with Hamas may have to feature in future European Union policy, The Irish Times reported.

Martin told reporters in Damascus that several key regional players, apparently including Hamas, had made representations to the EU since the end of Israel's offensive in Gaza last month, the paper said.

"What was clear . . . was the request to Europe to be flexible in terms of how one approaches what emerges from this process . . . not to be absolutist," the minister was quoted as saying.

Engagement with Hamas would contradict the EU's current boycott of the Islamist militant group, which it considers a terrorist organization.

Only last week, the EU's foreign aid chief condemned Hamas for acting like "a terrorist movement," and accused the group of having "enormous responsibility" for the devastation caused in Gaza during the three weeks of fighting.

Nevertheless, while stressing that the current EU position on Hamas calls for it to renounce violence and recognize Israel before any engagement might take place, Martin reportedly spoke of the possibility of a "flexibility of mindset" towards the aim of "getting practical work done on the ground, in terms of rebuilding Gaza."

In response to a question by The Irish Times on whether such a "flexible" approach may at some stage involve some level of engagement with Hamas, the Minister was quoted as replying: "Until we see what emerges from the various interlocutors and the various discussions going on between the parties, it is too early to say.

"The main point I'm making is we cannot just close the door if we don't like certain aspects."