The head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, has said the militant group is open to negotiations to end the war with Israel, but stressed that any final deal would have to lead to an independent Palestinian state.

In a televised speech on Wednesday, Haniyeh said Hamas is prepared for dialogue with Israel, hoping that future talks could put “the Palestinian house in order both in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.”

“We are open to discuss any arrangement or initiative that could end the aggression” and lead to a “political path that secures the right of the Palestinian people to their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.”

However, the official went on to warn that any attempt to exclude Hamas and other armed groups from a post-war settlement would be a “delusion,” saying the “resistance factions” must be involved in the process.

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