The Islamic Hamas movement condemned as "irresponsible" Thursday statements by presumptive Democratic party nominee for United States President Barak Obama touting Jerusalem as the "undivided" capital of Israel, reported dpa.
"The statements of Obama that undivided Jerusalem is the capital of the occupation state is rejected and condemned. It reflects the biased US position towards Israel," senior Hamas leader Mahmoud al- Zahar told reporters in Gaza.
"Such statements are irresponsible and reflect the ill US policy towards the Palestinians. His statements are made in this particular time as part of his election campaign," he said.
In April, senior Hamas political official Ahmed Yousef told WABC radio in New York that the Islamist organization "liked" Obama and hoped he won the election.
Obama, who clinched the Democratic Party nomination for the presidency on Tuesday, told the conference of the America Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Wednesday that "Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided."
Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 war and annexed it shortly afterwards, insisting that the entire city is its "eternal, undivided capital."
But Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state and the fate of the city is one of the core issues being negotiated between the sides.