Revealing secret documents about an alleged meeting between Hamas and Britain years ago

Western media revealed documents from Gaza claiming to show details of a meeting between a British representative and officials from Hamas in February 2022, three months after the extension of the terrorism ban on the movement.

The Hebrew newspaper "Maariv" reported from the British "Daily Express" that "just hours before British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Britain's recognition of a Palestinian state, a diplomatic scandal was revealed that could embarrass the government in London."

The newspaper explained that "confidential documents were found regarding a meeting between a British representative and Hamas officials, which contradicts the official British policy of not communicating with terrorist organizations," noting that the British Foreign Office was forced to issue an immediate denial, but this denial raises more questions than it provides answers.

Maariv mentioned that "Israeli security agencies are trying to understand how these documents reached the British media from inside Gaza and the meaning of their content," pointing out that "the leaked documents paint a complex picture of what happened in February 2022."

It continued: "According to a memo issued by the internal security apparatus in Gaza, a meeting was held with an employee linked to the British consulate in Israel, and the memo leaked by the British Daily Express describes detailed specifics about the meeting."

It added: "What is concerning about the content of the documents is not only the holding of the meeting but also the alleged messages that were conveyed. According to the organization 'Monitor' (NGO Monitor), which specializes in analyzing the activities of NGOs in conflict areas, the British representative reassured Hamas officials that Britain's decision to classify Hamas as a terrorist organization would not affect the projects funded by the British government in Gaza."

It noted that "the British employee clarified to Hamas representatives an important technical distinction: the ban was decided by the British Home Office and not the Foreign Office, and the clear implication was that the Foreign Office's policy towards Hamas would not change fundamentally, but he categorically refused to define it as a normal meeting."

It pointed out that "according to the British, Hamas police forcibly summoned the employee to explain Britain's activities in Gaza, and refusing to respond to the summons was not an option."

According to "Maariv," the documents constitute conclusive evidence that Britain, contrary to repeated official statements, indeed has relations with Hamas, adding that "the leak comes at a particularly sensitive political moment."