Hamas leader Sinwar: Interview I gave was not meant for Israeli newspaper

The Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has denied granting an interview to an Israeli daily newspaper in which he discusses the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip, ceasefire talks and the possibility of war.

Quotes from Sinwar have already been published online by Yedioth Ahronoth, the Tel Aviv-based paper. The full version of the interview will be published by the Israeli publication on Friday and will also appear in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, which has already published part of it.

Sinwar is a veteran Palestinian political and military leader who spent 22 years in Israeli prisons and was active in the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas. In 2017, he was elected as political leader of Hamas.

In the article, Sinwar says he wants "an end to the siege" and that "it's important to make it clear: if we're attacked, we'll defend ourselves. As always".

Reporter: Interview was in person

But Sinwar's press office said in a statement: "We are sorry that the journalist did not respect her career code of conduct." 

The journalist in question, Francesca Borri, had asked - or so the Hamas statement says - for an official interview with Sinwar on behalf of La Repubblica and The Guardian. 

Borri took a photo with Sinwar, which appeared on the front page of Yedioth Ahronoth. She says the interview was done in person, while the Hamas leader's office says it was through written questions and answers.

Translation: In an exclusive interview with Yedioth Ahronoth, Sinwar said: I'm not saying I won't fight anymore. I'm saying I don't want any more wars.

"It seems that the journalist sold the interview to Yedioth Ahronoth, who changed the content to make it look like the interview was done for an Israeli newspaper," the statement said.

Borri said that she spent five days in Gaza and met Sinwar three times in his office in Gaza City to conduct the interview.

What Sinwar said?

In the interview, Sinwar is quoted as saying: "What I want is an end to the [Israeli] siege. My first commitment is to act in the interest of my people; to protect them and to defend their right for freedom and independence."

On the indirect talks with Israel about a ceasefire, mediated by Egypt in recent months, the paper reports Sinwar as saying: "The [ceasefire] agreement doesn't exist yet.

"Hamas and almost all of the other Palestinian organisations are willing to sign it and honour it. But at the moment there's only the occupation.

"It's important to make it clear: if we're attacked, we'll defend ourselves. As always. And we will have another war. But then, in a year, you'll be here again; and I'll again tell you that with war you achieve nothing."

Sinwar also said, according to the interview, that he will do "whatever it takes" to release Palestinian political prisoners from Israeli jails in exchange for the two prisoners and two dead bodies of Israeli soldiers held by Hamas.

"This isn't a political question, it's a moral question," he reportedly said.