A senior Hamas official said on Saturday that he backs the idea of establishing a bi-national state that includes both the Israelis and the Palestinians to resolve a conflict that has been going on for decades.

Ahmed Yousef told a Gaza-based local Radio station in an interview that "this option is more practical and it is the best to keep the Palestinians' rights."

"I'm certain that the Israelis won't give us a state and I personally believe that the choice of the bi-national state keeps our historic rights in all the lands of historic Palestine," said Yousef.

Hamas movement was established in late 1987 in the Gaza Strip, but Israel considered it a hostile movement after its militants carried out dozens of suicide bombing attacks into Israel that killed hundreds of Israelis.

Hamas, which seized control of Gaza by force in 2007, opposes the peace process, which helped to establish the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) in 1993, in accordance to a peace deal the Palestinians signed with Israel.

Contrary to Hamas opposition to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Yousef said he is personally satisfied with what President Abbas is doing, mainly joining the United Nations' agencies and treaties.

"I call on all Palestinian factions and political powers to stand behind president Abbas and it's not a big deal if the peace talks with Israel are extended for another year," said Yousef.