Ismail Haniya, the leader of the Palestinian group Hamas, has praised the Libyan people and government for their rejection of normalization with Israel.
Libya's western region, which PM Dbeibah's government (GNU) controls saw protests last week after news broke of a secret meeting between FM Najla Al-Manqoush and the Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen.
A statement by Hamas said that Haniya had a phone conversation with the Presidential Council Head, Muhammad Menfi, during which they discussed the Palestinian issue and Libya's stance on rejecting normalization with Israel.
Haniya commended in his talk with Menfi Libya's position on rejecting normalization and criticized Israel's attempts to influence it, as he conveyed his appreciation on behalf of the Palestinian people for Libya's unwavering stance on the issue, "unlike some other Arab countries."
In response, Menfi confirmed Libya's stance on the Palestinian issue and declared that it would not change. He further stated that his country would not cross any red lines in its relations with Palestine and regards Israel as an occupying state.
