Islamic Hamas movement criticized on Thursday the statements of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that the Palestinian people, including his Fatah party and Hamas, are not interested in the "armed resistance" against Israel.

In a press release, a Hamas official, Salah al-Bardawil, described Abbas' statements as false and only aim to "fraud the will of the Palestinian people and their right to struggle for their freedom."

In an interview with the London-based Asharq Al-Awast daily published on Thursday, Abbas said Palestinian people were not interested in the armed resistance and that he sees no difference between Hamas and Fatah movements in this regard.

Al-Bardawil said "The goal behind such statements is to persuade the Palestinian people to give up the option of armed resistance," which is "the only way to free the lands and to retrieve places."

The Gaza-based al-Bardawil said "some Palestinian people believe in the armed resistance," and the proximity talks, which are expected to start next week between the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and Israel, "are just a waste of time and will only help the Israelis perpetuate their presence" in the Palestinian territories