A West Bank-based Islamic Hamas lawmaker denied Monday the earlier reports that his movement has launched secret and direct dialogue with Israel, Xinhua reported.
Mahmoud al-Ramahi, a Hamas lawmaker from the West Bank, said in a press statement sent to reporters that these reports "are totally untrue," and "the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) is not seeking to open any secret dialogue with Israel."
He called on the local media to be more accurate when publishing such reports and to avoid untrue information, adding that there are sources trying to damage Hamas image.
Media reports said on Sunday the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held secret contacts with the speaker of the Hamas-dominated PLC and its secretary general.
Hamas movement, which refused to recognize the state of Israel, has held indirect talks recently with Israel mediated by Germany and Egypt over a prisoners' swap deal.
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