The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Thursday slammed the UN Middle East envoy for supporting President Mahmoud Abbas' idea about a referendum on a plan which includes implicit recognition of Israel.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said that Alvaro de Soto's remarks showed that the United Nations was implicated in a siege against the Palestinians by exceeding all laws and international accords which criminate occupation and give occupied nations right of self-defense.

Abu Zuhri said that the Palestinians are forced to bow to pressure and give legitimacy to an Israeli occupation.

Earlier, the UN envoy welcomed Abbas' idea about referendum on the National Accordance signed by leaders of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Hamas opposes the document because it aims to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by establishing a Palestinian statehood within the 1967 borders. Hamas claims that the 1967- state solution must be interim.

Source: Xinhua