The best path to achieving a Palestinian state is through peaceful resistance, not armed struggle.

Axar.az informs Palestinian Authority Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh told Al Arabiya on Sunday, urging Hamas to lay down its arms.

In an interview, al-Sheikh noted that internal divisions have politicized the issue of weapons.

The Palestinian Authority “is in contact with Hamas… and we are currently having a dialogue with the movement,” al-Sheikh said referring to the militant group that is currently at war with Israel in the Gaza Strip.

“Hamas should let go of its arms and agree to a single authority,” he added.

“Hamas is part of the people and cannot be eliminated from the political life [but] Hamas has to change its policies to become part of our political system,” the newly appointed VP said.

As for the future of Gaza, al-Sheikh said that the US was the “only side” capable of forcing Israel to stop the war in Gaza, while expressing hope that Hamas would also take action that would lead to stopping the war.