18 sept 2013
The Palestinian government in Gaza reiterated its position in support of the Palestinian resistance, affirming that the resistance option is the most effective strategy to confront the occupation and liberate the land. In a press release issued following its weekly meeting on Tuesday, the government emphasized that it would keep up its role in protecting the back of the Palestinian resistance and the internal front.
It highlighted in its statement that the steadfastness of the Palestinian people has always been the biggest factor in the Palestinian victory over the Israeli occupation in Gaza.
The government, in another context, warned of the impacts of the Israeli-Egyptian blockade on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and appealed to the international community to pay attention to the suffering of the Gaza people and work on ending the inhuman siege imposed on them.
It noted that the blockade prevented many patients from receiving medical treatment outside Gaza and caused an acute shortage of medicines and medical supplies.
The government also urged the world's free people to organize aid convoys to Gaza in order to break its blockade and support the steadfastness of its population.
The government strongly denounced the Egyptian navy for attacking Palestinian fishermen in Gaza waters and called for releasing the five fishermen it had kidnapped.
The government also renewed its rejection of the Oslo accords agreement and called on the Palestinian Authority to stop its reliance on the Zio-American positions and cooperate with all political forces to achieve the Palestinian aspirations.
It highlighted in its statement that the steadfastness of the Palestinian people has always been the biggest factor in the Palestinian victory over the Israeli occupation in Gaza.
The government, in another context, warned of the impacts of the Israeli-Egyptian blockade on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and appealed to the international community to pay attention to the suffering of the Gaza people and work on ending the inhuman siege imposed on them.
It noted that the blockade prevented many patients from receiving medical treatment outside Gaza and caused an acute shortage of medicines and medical supplies.
The government also urged the world's free people to organize aid convoys to Gaza in order to break its blockade and support the steadfastness of its population.
The government strongly denounced the Egyptian navy for attacking Palestinian fishermen in Gaza waters and called for releasing the five fishermen it had kidnapped.
The government also renewed its rejection of the Oslo accords agreement and called on the Palestinian Authority to stop its reliance on the Zio-American positions and cooperate with all political forces to achieve the Palestinian aspirations.
17 sept 2013
Arab Organization for Human Rights in the UK (AOHR) strongly condemned the Egyptian army spokesman's statement about the operations that the army is carrying out in Sinai Peninsula. It noted that the army claimed weapons were found stamped with the name of the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas.
The organization said that the statement, coupled with the video showing only one hand grenade stamped with the sign of Qassam Brigades, was a serious attempt to involve the Gaza Strip in the Sinai events.
It was better for the army to cooperate with the authorities in Gaza to know the truth similar to what was happening in the past, the statement added.
AOHR said that Egypt’s charges against Gaza of involvement in the crimes in Sinai were the price demanded by Israel in return for supporting the coup led by Egyptian defense minister Abdulfattah Al-Sisi.
The human rights organization described operations of the Egyptian army in Sinai, including arbitrary killing and detention and destroying homes and places of worship, as unjustified crimes.
AOHR called upon the UN Secretary General to demand an end to the crimes in Sinai and to pressure the Egyptian authorities to stop media campaigns against the Gaza Strip and to work on lifting the siege and allowing the entry of food, medicine and fuel into the besieged enclave.
Meanwhile, Friends of Humanity International asked the Egyptian authorities to lift the siege on Gaza Strip and to open the Rafah crossing permanently to allow free movement of people.
Palestinians in Gaza Strip have been suffering from the Israeli siege along 91 months where thousands including students are still stranded and prevented from traveling to and from Gaza, the organization said, pointing to the Strip's dire need of fuel, food and medical supplies.
In its letter to the Supreme Council of the Egyptian Armed Forces, Friends of Humanity Int'l expressed conviction in the Egyptian people's desire to lift the unfair siege on the Strip that was recently tightened by the Egyptian authorities after the closure of Rafah border crossing.
The organization called on the Egyptian authorities not to participate in tightening the “oppressive” siege on Gaza and to bear their historical responsibilities before the people of Gaza who have been under Egyptian administration until 1967.
Friends of Humanity also urged the Egyptian authorities to stop targeting homes along the Egyptian border with Gaza and to work on establishing a free trade zone between the two countries to meet the needs of the besieged people since 2006.
The organization said that the statement, coupled with the video showing only one hand grenade stamped with the sign of Qassam Brigades, was a serious attempt to involve the Gaza Strip in the Sinai events.
It was better for the army to cooperate with the authorities in Gaza to know the truth similar to what was happening in the past, the statement added.
AOHR said that Egypt’s charges against Gaza of involvement in the crimes in Sinai were the price demanded by Israel in return for supporting the coup led by Egyptian defense minister Abdulfattah Al-Sisi.
The human rights organization described operations of the Egyptian army in Sinai, including arbitrary killing and detention and destroying homes and places of worship, as unjustified crimes.
AOHR called upon the UN Secretary General to demand an end to the crimes in Sinai and to pressure the Egyptian authorities to stop media campaigns against the Gaza Strip and to work on lifting the siege and allowing the entry of food, medicine and fuel into the besieged enclave.
Meanwhile, Friends of Humanity International asked the Egyptian authorities to lift the siege on Gaza Strip and to open the Rafah crossing permanently to allow free movement of people.
Palestinians in Gaza Strip have been suffering from the Israeli siege along 91 months where thousands including students are still stranded and prevented from traveling to and from Gaza, the organization said, pointing to the Strip's dire need of fuel, food and medical supplies.
In its letter to the Supreme Council of the Egyptian Armed Forces, Friends of Humanity Int'l expressed conviction in the Egyptian people's desire to lift the unfair siege on the Strip that was recently tightened by the Egyptian authorities after the closure of Rafah border crossing.
The organization called on the Egyptian authorities not to participate in tightening the “oppressive” siege on Gaza and to bear their historical responsibilities before the people of Gaza who have been under Egyptian administration until 1967.
Friends of Humanity also urged the Egyptian authorities to stop targeting homes along the Egyptian border with Gaza and to work on establishing a free trade zone between the two countries to meet the needs of the besieged people since 2006.
14 sept 2013
Palestinian premier Ismail Haneyya reiterated that his government and the resistance factions are committed to not interfering in the internal affairs of Arab countries, which he described as a big support for the Palestinian cause. In the Friday khutba he delivered in a mosque in Rafah area, premier Haneyya said that his government is following up the impacts of the Egyptian demolition of tunnels in Rafah, affirming that steps have been initiated to ease the burden on all citizens and help them confront the blockade imposed on all walks of life in the Gaza Strip.
Premier Haneyya stressed that the resistance weapon would never be directed against anyone but the Israeli occupation.
He also highlighted that his government would never cease supporting the resistance, for it is the only hope and means for the Palestinians to confront the occupation.
He called for necessarily helping the Palestinian natives of Jerusalem to stand up to Israel's Judaization of their holy city.
He finally renewed his government's vow to continue supporting the steadfastness of the Palestinian people everywhere in occupied Palestine until its liberation from the yoke of occupation.
Premier Haneyya stressed that the resistance weapon would never be directed against anyone but the Israeli occupation.
He also highlighted that his government would never cease supporting the resistance, for it is the only hope and means for the Palestinians to confront the occupation.
He called for necessarily helping the Palestinian natives of Jerusalem to stand up to Israel's Judaization of their holy city.
He finally renewed his government's vow to continue supporting the steadfastness of the Palestinian people everywhere in occupied Palestine until its liberation from the yoke of occupation.
12 sept 2013
Political bureau member of Hamas Dr. Mousa Abu Marzouk has lashed out at statement for a Palestinian consular describing Gaza as a base for “terrorism”. Abu Marzouk condemned on his Facebook page on Thursday those who try and picture Gaza as a base for terrorism or a source of extremism.
He said that Gaza was rather a base for resistance and a thorn in the side of occupation. He said that Gaza is the project for liberation and return.
The Hamas leader said the will of the people that chose Hamas to win in the general elections would never be defeated by lies, provocation, and cheap opportunism.
Abu Marzouk asked Palestinian consular in Alexandria Jamal Al-Jammal to rethink what he said and to determine on which side he was, adding that if Hamas was a “terrorist movement” why then go for reconciliation with it and why consider it part of the Palestinian people. “The problem is that his superiors did not discipline him,” Abu Marzouk said.
Jammal had said that Hamas was a “terrorist movement’ that backed “forces of darkness” and had turned Gaza into a “quagmire of terrorism and extremism”.
He said that Gaza was rather a base for resistance and a thorn in the side of occupation. He said that Gaza is the project for liberation and return.
The Hamas leader said the will of the people that chose Hamas to win in the general elections would never be defeated by lies, provocation, and cheap opportunism.
Abu Marzouk asked Palestinian consular in Alexandria Jamal Al-Jammal to rethink what he said and to determine on which side he was, adding that if Hamas was a “terrorist movement” why then go for reconciliation with it and why consider it part of the Palestinian people. “The problem is that his superiors did not discipline him,” Abu Marzouk said.
Jammal had said that Hamas was a “terrorist movement’ that backed “forces of darkness” and had turned Gaza into a “quagmire of terrorism and extremism”.
9 sept 2013
'It is important to remember that the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have not abandoned resistance to the occupation, and have the means to defend themselves against Israeli aggression'
The campaign to remove Hamas from government in Gaza has started: a "rebellion" movement has been announced; journalists have been invited to meet its "secret" leader; and Fatah's Azzam Al-Ahmad has said that the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah is still looking at how to respond to Hamas's call for factions to participate in governing Gaza. The Islamic Resistance Movement is already targeted by PA security agencies in the occupied West Bank. The next step is to stop the flow of funds from the PA for the government in Gaza to the point that it will be impossible for it to fulfil its functions.
The counter-revolutions in the Arab Spring countries have been boosted by the coup in Egypt; are working on the Tunisian government; and even have designs on Libya. With Yemen already under counter-revolutionary control, the Hamas government in Gaza is the logical next step. Turkey and the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also on the counter-revolutionaries' radar; they hope to exploit ethnic divisions in the country.
Hamas appears to have sensed the danger and has offered other factions the opportunity to share in the government of the besieged Gaza Strip. That offer is undoubtedly linked to the counter-revolution's intent but, in any case, it is a smart move to make.
The PA and Fatah leadership has responded viciously to Hamas's offer by rejecting it and asking others to do likewise. Given that some other factions are funded by the PA it is difficult for them to refuse its call.
Fatah's claim that the offer encourages the division between Gaza and the West Bank is merely an excuse to reject it. It is a dream of the "moderates" negotiating with Israel to annex the Gaza Strip to the West Bank statelet likely to result from the talks, regardless of whether its borders are "temporary" or permanent. Al-Ahmad and his colleagues are shedding crocodile tears about the lack of reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas. They want to destroy the Islamic movement through an election in which they believe they can win a majority (which, with most Islamist politicians in the West Bank in PA or Israeli detention, will not be too difficult). A Fatah victory is the desire of Israel, the US and now some Arab states as well.
The Israelis need to have the Gaza Strip and West Bank as one entity so that it is part of the agreement that is being conjured up with the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. Israel has been unable to defeat Hamas in two massive military assaults against the people of Gaza so it would suit the government of Benjamin Netanyahu very well if the demise of the Islamic movement can come about "internally", as it were, through other Palestinian factions.
It is important to remember that the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have not abandoned resistance to the occupation, and have the means to defend themselves against Israeli aggression. It is for this reason that the Israelis and their supporters are pushing Mahmoud Abbas to agree that a future Palestinian state will be demilitarised. By all accounts, he has agreed to this.
Those who have created the Tamarod-style rebellion movement in Gaza ignore this dimension. They are not concerned about resistance, even popular resistance; all they care about is settling scores and factional dominance. In all honesty, it is doubtful if they even care about the Palestinian cause at all.
They also ignore how ex-Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan tried to disarm the factions when the Israelis abandoned their settlements in Gaza in 2005.
The role of Egypt's coup organisers in this conspiracy against Hamas and Gaza will be vital, lending power, cover and support, and even sanctuary, to those who would overthrow the most legitimate government in Palestine. They hope to put pressure on Hamas and the Palestinians by destroying the tunnels and closing the border but are they ready to face Arab public anger at such moves?
In response to the "Gaza Tamarod" the authorities must use wisdom and restraint; violence should be avoided. Public protests should be matched by protests in support of the government; again, violence should be avoided.
Since 2007 I have been proposing a comprehensive solution for these problems; it has gained a new importance in the light of the current negotiations. If a state is created with "temporary" borders, and it is recognised by the UN, the conflict will be reduced to one about borders between two UN-member states; the issues of Jerusalem, refugees and sovereignty over important parts of the West Bank will be wiped out at a stroke.
The proposal requires a united front ready to create a consensus administration for the West Bank and Gaza Strip; a joint leadership to be elected by all Palestinians at home and in exile, not the Palestinian Authority, to head another intifada to end the occupation of all land taken by Israel since 1967; and an unconditional return of the refugees as a prelude to freeing all of historic Palestine.
Because the PA leadership and Fatah will refuse such a proposal, Gaza should be agreed upon as a free zone with a consensus administration governing affairs; it should become a base for resistance movements of all kinds.
For now, there should be a move by Hamas to criminalise the Gaza Tamarod movement along with efforts to extend the representation of the people in government in the territory. Gaza is still in a state of war and it is not permitted to allow it to become ungovernable.
The right to resist the Israeli occupation cannot be abandoned to please those driven by factional considerations and funded by Arab states who do not want anything good for Hamas or the Palestinians and their cause. Such states want only to end all rebellion in the region and maintain the status quo in which their own undemocratic and dictatorial regimes can continue to rule unopposed.
Translated from the Arabic text which appeared on Al-Jazeera Net on 5 September, 2013
The campaign to remove Hamas from government in Gaza has started: a "rebellion" movement has been announced; journalists have been invited to meet its "secret" leader; and Fatah's Azzam Al-Ahmad has said that the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah is still looking at how to respond to Hamas's call for factions to participate in governing Gaza. The Islamic Resistance Movement is already targeted by PA security agencies in the occupied West Bank. The next step is to stop the flow of funds from the PA for the government in Gaza to the point that it will be impossible for it to fulfil its functions.
The counter-revolutions in the Arab Spring countries have been boosted by the coup in Egypt; are working on the Tunisian government; and even have designs on Libya. With Yemen already under counter-revolutionary control, the Hamas government in Gaza is the logical next step. Turkey and the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also on the counter-revolutionaries' radar; they hope to exploit ethnic divisions in the country.
Hamas appears to have sensed the danger and has offered other factions the opportunity to share in the government of the besieged Gaza Strip. That offer is undoubtedly linked to the counter-revolution's intent but, in any case, it is a smart move to make.
The PA and Fatah leadership has responded viciously to Hamas's offer by rejecting it and asking others to do likewise. Given that some other factions are funded by the PA it is difficult for them to refuse its call.
Fatah's claim that the offer encourages the division between Gaza and the West Bank is merely an excuse to reject it. It is a dream of the "moderates" negotiating with Israel to annex the Gaza Strip to the West Bank statelet likely to result from the talks, regardless of whether its borders are "temporary" or permanent. Al-Ahmad and his colleagues are shedding crocodile tears about the lack of reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas. They want to destroy the Islamic movement through an election in which they believe they can win a majority (which, with most Islamist politicians in the West Bank in PA or Israeli detention, will not be too difficult). A Fatah victory is the desire of Israel, the US and now some Arab states as well.
The Israelis need to have the Gaza Strip and West Bank as one entity so that it is part of the agreement that is being conjured up with the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. Israel has been unable to defeat Hamas in two massive military assaults against the people of Gaza so it would suit the government of Benjamin Netanyahu very well if the demise of the Islamic movement can come about "internally", as it were, through other Palestinian factions.
It is important to remember that the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have not abandoned resistance to the occupation, and have the means to defend themselves against Israeli aggression. It is for this reason that the Israelis and their supporters are pushing Mahmoud Abbas to agree that a future Palestinian state will be demilitarised. By all accounts, he has agreed to this.
Those who have created the Tamarod-style rebellion movement in Gaza ignore this dimension. They are not concerned about resistance, even popular resistance; all they care about is settling scores and factional dominance. In all honesty, it is doubtful if they even care about the Palestinian cause at all.
They also ignore how ex-Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan tried to disarm the factions when the Israelis abandoned their settlements in Gaza in 2005.
The role of Egypt's coup organisers in this conspiracy against Hamas and Gaza will be vital, lending power, cover and support, and even sanctuary, to those who would overthrow the most legitimate government in Palestine. They hope to put pressure on Hamas and the Palestinians by destroying the tunnels and closing the border but are they ready to face Arab public anger at such moves?
In response to the "Gaza Tamarod" the authorities must use wisdom and restraint; violence should be avoided. Public protests should be matched by protests in support of the government; again, violence should be avoided.
Since 2007 I have been proposing a comprehensive solution for these problems; it has gained a new importance in the light of the current negotiations. If a state is created with "temporary" borders, and it is recognised by the UN, the conflict will be reduced to one about borders between two UN-member states; the issues of Jerusalem, refugees and sovereignty over important parts of the West Bank will be wiped out at a stroke.
The proposal requires a united front ready to create a consensus administration for the West Bank and Gaza Strip; a joint leadership to be elected by all Palestinians at home and in exile, not the Palestinian Authority, to head another intifada to end the occupation of all land taken by Israel since 1967; and an unconditional return of the refugees as a prelude to freeing all of historic Palestine.
Because the PA leadership and Fatah will refuse such a proposal, Gaza should be agreed upon as a free zone with a consensus administration governing affairs; it should become a base for resistance movements of all kinds.
For now, there should be a move by Hamas to criminalise the Gaza Tamarod movement along with efforts to extend the representation of the people in government in the territory. Gaza is still in a state of war and it is not permitted to allow it to become ungovernable.
The right to resist the Israeli occupation cannot be abandoned to please those driven by factional considerations and funded by Arab states who do not want anything good for Hamas or the Palestinians and their cause. Such states want only to end all rebellion in the region and maintain the status quo in which their own undemocratic and dictatorial regimes can continue to rule unopposed.
Translated from the Arabic text which appeared on Al-Jazeera Net on 5 September, 2013
Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, categorically denied the claims made by some Egyptian websites about the impounding of weapons belonging to it in the Sinai, stressing that Palestine is the only arena for its activities. "Our only and main activity arena is the whole Palestinian land an our resistance is directed against the Zionist enemy, the central enemy of the nation, so it is not in our interest at all to interfere in the affairs of the Arab countries, especially Egypt," a senior official from the Brigades stated.
The official affirmed that the things that were claimed to be found out with the Al-Quds Brigades emblem on them are fabricated and the Brigades have nothing to do with them.
"It has never happened that we were a party to any internal conflict of any country in the region and our position in this regard is known, declared, and irrevocable," he underlined.
This came in response to what had been published earlier by Sada Al-Balad website affiliated with the Egyptian army about the confiscation of Palestinian weapons.
The website claimed that weapons and military equipment belonging to Palestinian resistance movements, including Al-Quds Brigades, were found by the Egyptian army during a recent operation in the Sinai.
Egypt military seizes Gaza-linked weapons in Sinai
Egypt's military says it has seized caches of weapons in a Sinai operation including a mortar apparently belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group in neighboring Gaza.
The military has launched a sweeping offensive in the north of the peninsula to quell an Islamist militant insurgency that surged after the army deposed president Mohamed Morsi in July.
In a picture of seized weapons posted on its spokesman's Facebook page on Sunday, three soldiers stood next to captured machine-guns and mortars.
One mortar had a scale used for aiming with the caption "Saraya Al Quds."
That is the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, which had previously defied the ruling Hamas movement by firing rockets at Israel when Hamas wanted a truce.
Egyptian authorities say the Sinai militants, who have launched attacks on Israel from Egyptian territory, are linked to extremists in Gaza.
The relationship between Gazan militants and their Sinai counterparts is vague.
An expert on Gazan movements said some members of both Hamas and Islamic Jihad chafed at restrictions against attacking Israel and took on roles with more extreme splinter groups.
"It's more with Islamic Jihad than Hamas that you have this moonlighting phenomena," said Nathan Thrall, a Jerusalem based analyst with the International Crisis Group.
"A huge percentage of Salafi jihadis in Gaza were former members of Islamic Jihad or Hamas, and left out of frustration out of the fact that they were not attacking Israel," he said.
An Al-Qaeda-linked group in Sinai on Sunday claimed responsibility for a failed assassination attempt against Egypt's interior minister last week, in which a bomb targeted his convoy.
The claim by Ansar Beit al-Maqdis came as the military conducted air strikes on militant hideouts in Sinai.
The official affirmed that the things that were claimed to be found out with the Al-Quds Brigades emblem on them are fabricated and the Brigades have nothing to do with them.
"It has never happened that we were a party to any internal conflict of any country in the region and our position in this regard is known, declared, and irrevocable," he underlined.
This came in response to what had been published earlier by Sada Al-Balad website affiliated with the Egyptian army about the confiscation of Palestinian weapons.
The website claimed that weapons and military equipment belonging to Palestinian resistance movements, including Al-Quds Brigades, were found by the Egyptian army during a recent operation in the Sinai.
Egypt military seizes Gaza-linked weapons in Sinai
Egypt's military says it has seized caches of weapons in a Sinai operation including a mortar apparently belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group in neighboring Gaza.
The military has launched a sweeping offensive in the north of the peninsula to quell an Islamist militant insurgency that surged after the army deposed president Mohamed Morsi in July.
In a picture of seized weapons posted on its spokesman's Facebook page on Sunday, three soldiers stood next to captured machine-guns and mortars.
One mortar had a scale used for aiming with the caption "Saraya Al Quds."
That is the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, which had previously defied the ruling Hamas movement by firing rockets at Israel when Hamas wanted a truce.
Egyptian authorities say the Sinai militants, who have launched attacks on Israel from Egyptian territory, are linked to extremists in Gaza.
The relationship between Gazan militants and their Sinai counterparts is vague.
An expert on Gazan movements said some members of both Hamas and Islamic Jihad chafed at restrictions against attacking Israel and took on roles with more extreme splinter groups.
"It's more with Islamic Jihad than Hamas that you have this moonlighting phenomena," said Nathan Thrall, a Jerusalem based analyst with the International Crisis Group.
"A huge percentage of Salafi jihadis in Gaza were former members of Islamic Jihad or Hamas, and left out of frustration out of the fact that they were not attacking Israel," he said.
An Al-Qaeda-linked group in Sinai on Sunday claimed responsibility for a failed assassination attempt against Egypt's interior minister last week, in which a bomb targeted his convoy.
The claim by Ansar Beit al-Maqdis came as the military conducted air strikes on militant hideouts in Sinai.
8 sept 2013
Hamas spokesman Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri denied that there are demonstrations in Gaza against the government, and stressed that rumours about Tamarrud (rebellion) Movement in the Strip represents a desperate attempt to remove Hamas and break the resistance. Abu Zuhri told Quds Press on Sunday: "Gaza government is at the service of the people and the resistance project. The situation in Gaza is not like the case in any other country, in Gaza there is no governor and governed."
He asserted that there are no demonstrations in the Gaza Strip because Hamas is part of the Palestinian street, and is leading the project of resistance, adding that these allegations aim to remove and break Hamas.
Hamas spokesman said: "There is no Tamarrud Movement is Gaza, but there are attempts by some bodies within the Fatah movement to create chaos in Gaza. However these attempts will fail as our people are united behind the resistance."
He stressed that the reconciliation efforts have not failed yet, and said: "There are some parties that do not have the will to implement the reconciliation agreement. When the will is there, it will be easy to complete the reconciliation."
He asserted that there are no demonstrations in the Gaza Strip because Hamas is part of the Palestinian street, and is leading the project of resistance, adding that these allegations aim to remove and break Hamas.
Hamas spokesman said: "There is no Tamarrud Movement is Gaza, but there are attempts by some bodies within the Fatah movement to create chaos in Gaza. However these attempts will fail as our people are united behind the resistance."
He stressed that the reconciliation efforts have not failed yet, and said: "There are some parties that do not have the will to implement the reconciliation agreement. When the will is there, it will be easy to complete the reconciliation."
Deputy head of Hamas's political bureau Mousa Abu Marzouk said that the Palestinian resistance in Gaza had agreed on calm with the Israeli occupation and not a truce as some people think. On his facebook page, Abu Marzouk rejected the claims saying that Hamas and Islamic Jihad have abandoned their resistance against the occupation.
"If Hamas and Islamic Jihad have given up their resistance, so why is there a division in the Palestinian arena? And why is the blockade on Gaza ongoing?" the Hamas official highlighted.
"For the first time in the history of the conflict, Tel Aviv was hit with missiles, so was this a sign of peace and harmony or an act of resistance and a refusal to surrender?" he questioned further.
He recalled that all ceasefire agreements with the Israeli occupation state were brokered by the Egyptian intelligence apparatus during the rule of Hosni Mubarak and Mohamed Morsi.
"If Hamas and Islamic Jihad have given up their resistance, so why is there a division in the Palestinian arena? And why is the blockade on Gaza ongoing?" the Hamas official highlighted.
"For the first time in the history of the conflict, Tel Aviv was hit with missiles, so was this a sign of peace and harmony or an act of resistance and a refusal to surrender?" he questioned further.
He recalled that all ceasefire agreements with the Israeli occupation state were brokered by the Egyptian intelligence apparatus during the rule of Hosni Mubarak and Mohamed Morsi.
6 sept 2013
Hundreds of resistance factions’ elements in the Gaza Strip took part in a military parade on Friday morning in the northern Gaza Strip, to display their readiness to confront any aggression and their rejection of the futile negotiations with the occupation. PIC's correspondent said the parade was launched from the city of Sheikh Zayed in the northern Gaza Strip, with the participation of the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Popular Resistance Committees, Mujahideen Brigades, National Resistance Brigades, Nasser Salahudin Brigades and Al-Ahrar Brigades.
The march roamed the streets of the towns of the north, and is scheduled to end with a press conference after Friday prayers.
The Popular Front said on its website that 50 resistance fighters from the different Palestinian military wings participated in the parade which confirms their unity.
It also stressed that the show, in which groups of elite forces from all Palestinian factions participate is "a major step towards a field unified confrontation", adding that the resistance's only goal is to confront the occupation and liberate Palestine.
The march roamed the streets of the towns of the north, and is scheduled to end with a press conference after Friday prayers.
The Popular Front said on its website that 50 resistance fighters from the different Palestinian military wings participated in the parade which confirms their unity.
It also stressed that the show, in which groups of elite forces from all Palestinian factions participate is "a major step towards a field unified confrontation", adding that the resistance's only goal is to confront the occupation and liberate Palestine.
Fathi Hammad
Palestinian Minister of Interior and National Security of the Hamas-led government in Gaza, Fathi Hammad, stated that his ministry is ready for any possible Israeli war against the Gaza Strip, amidst threats of a US-led war on Syria.
His statements came during a seminar with the Nurses Union in Gaza city. He said that Israel might use the situation to wage a war on the resistance in the coastal region.
Hammad stated that his ministry is ready, and is acting on maintaining a strong interior front that is always ready to counter any Israeli aggression.
He called on the Palestinian people, and the Palestinian factions, to be actively involved in supporting the resistance so that it can counter any aggression against the Palestinian people.
“National unity is achieved under the umbrella of steadfastness, resistance, and the liberation of Palestine”. Hammad said, “God willing, we are, and will always be a united nation against the occupation”.
Commenting on the closure of the Rafah Border Terminal, between Gaza and Egypt, Hammad said that this closure is causing a serious crisis that impacts the Palestinian people in Gaza, suffering from ongoing siege and aggression”.
Palestinian Minister of Interior and National Security of the Hamas-led government in Gaza, Fathi Hammad, stated that his ministry is ready for any possible Israeli war against the Gaza Strip, amidst threats of a US-led war on Syria.
His statements came during a seminar with the Nurses Union in Gaza city. He said that Israel might use the situation to wage a war on the resistance in the coastal region.
Hammad stated that his ministry is ready, and is acting on maintaining a strong interior front that is always ready to counter any Israeli aggression.
He called on the Palestinian people, and the Palestinian factions, to be actively involved in supporting the resistance so that it can counter any aggression against the Palestinian people.
“National unity is achieved under the umbrella of steadfastness, resistance, and the liberation of Palestine”. Hammad said, “God willing, we are, and will always be a united nation against the occupation”.
Commenting on the closure of the Rafah Border Terminal, between Gaza and Egypt, Hammad said that this closure is causing a serious crisis that impacts the Palestinian people in Gaza, suffering from ongoing siege and aggression”.
5 sept 2013
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, has reported that one of its fighters was killed, on Thursday at dawn [September 4, 2013] east of Gaza City.
The Brigades said that the fighter, Mohammad Lutfy Abed, 24, died in what it called a “jihadist mission” east of Gaza city.
Dr. Ashraf Al-Qodra, spokesperson of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, said that the body of Abed was moved to the Shifa Medical Center.
On Monday, a fighter of the Al-Qassam Brigades died when a siege-busting tunnel collapse on him in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
The Brigades said that the fighter, Mohammad Lutfy Abed, 24, died in what it called a “jihadist mission” east of Gaza city.
Dr. Ashraf Al-Qodra, spokesperson of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, said that the body of Abed was moved to the Shifa Medical Center.
On Monday, a fighter of the Al-Qassam Brigades died when a siege-busting tunnel collapse on him in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
2 sept 2013
Two explosions rocked eastern Gaza on Monday morning as they targeted a number of Israeli military vehicles and bulldozers. Eyewitnesses and security sources told the PIC reporter that the first explosion targeted an army bulldozer then the other targeted army vehicles that rushed to the scene.
They said that the first blast was an explosive device but they could not determine the nature of the second one, adding that heavy smoke was seen billowing from the scene of the explosions.
The PIC reporter pointed to heavy presence of Israeli soldiers in the area in addition to helicopter gunships and reconnaissance planes.
They said that the first blast was an explosive device but they could not determine the nature of the second one, adding that heavy smoke was seen billowing from the scene of the explosions.
The PIC reporter pointed to heavy presence of Israeli soldiers in the area in addition to helicopter gunships and reconnaissance planes.
An IDF armored vehicle watches over the Karni border crossing with Gaza
No injuries, damage reported in blast near Nahal Oz; incident second of its kind in the past week.
Two explosive charges detonated near an IDF patrol operating adjacent to the Gaza border Monday morning, causing no injuries or damage.
During routine activity along the border, the IDF squad encountered the two roadside bombs near Kibbutz Nahal Oz and the nearby now-defunct Karni Crossing, outside the northern Gaza Strip, according to Israeli media reports. The IDF would not confirm the exact location of the explosions.
A similar incident took place Friday, when an IED exploded near an IDF patrol traveling along the Gaza border fence. No soldiers were injured in Friday’s incident.
Aside from isolated rocket fire attributed to rogue Islamist groups, the border between Israel and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip has largely been calm since the ceasefire that ended last November’s Operation Pillar of Defense.
Earlier in August the IDF launched an airstrike on Gaza in response to rockets fired into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip. The air force targeted concealed rocket launchers in the strike and direct hits were confirmed, according to the IDF Spokesperson.
Israeli military detonates bombs along Gaza border
Israeli military forces detonated two bombs along the border with the Gaza Strip on Monday, Israel's army said.
"IDF soldiers exploded two concealed explosive devices in the northern Gaza Strip," an Israeli army spokesman told Ma'an.
"This is the second incident of its kind in two days. There were no injuries caused."
Israeli army spokesperson Lt Col Peter Lerner said that Israel "holds the right to maintain operational accessibility in the area" to prevent "terrorist attacks."
No injuries, damage reported in blast near Nahal Oz; incident second of its kind in the past week.
Two explosive charges detonated near an IDF patrol operating adjacent to the Gaza border Monday morning, causing no injuries or damage.
During routine activity along the border, the IDF squad encountered the two roadside bombs near Kibbutz Nahal Oz and the nearby now-defunct Karni Crossing, outside the northern Gaza Strip, according to Israeli media reports. The IDF would not confirm the exact location of the explosions.
A similar incident took place Friday, when an IED exploded near an IDF patrol traveling along the Gaza border fence. No soldiers were injured in Friday’s incident.
Aside from isolated rocket fire attributed to rogue Islamist groups, the border between Israel and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip has largely been calm since the ceasefire that ended last November’s Operation Pillar of Defense.
Earlier in August the IDF launched an airstrike on Gaza in response to rockets fired into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip. The air force targeted concealed rocket launchers in the strike and direct hits were confirmed, according to the IDF Spokesperson.
Israeli military detonates bombs along Gaza border
Israeli military forces detonated two bombs along the border with the Gaza Strip on Monday, Israel's army said.
"IDF soldiers exploded two concealed explosive devices in the northern Gaza Strip," an Israeli army spokesman told Ma'an.
"This is the second incident of its kind in two days. There were no injuries caused."
Israeli army spokesperson Lt Col Peter Lerner said that Israel "holds the right to maintain operational accessibility in the area" to prevent "terrorist attacks."
31 aug 2013
Officials from various political factions Saturday called for intensifying the popular resistance movement, describing it as the people’s choice for this period. Fatah Central Committee member Mahmoud Aloul told audience at the third Popular Resistance Conference held in the village of Qabalan, near Nablus, that the idea of popular non-violent resistance should become the approach of the people throughout the occupied territory.
“We want to spread the experience of popular resistance to become a way of thinking for our people and to constantly intensify it,” he said. “We should encourage the idea of economic boycott of the occupation authority, which has become one of the most effective tools in this resistance, and to make it a way of thinking for our people.”
He said Israel would not end its occupation if it does not see it as becoming costly for it.
Other speakers also praised the popular resistance saying that it proved to be an effective tool in the Palestinian struggle to end the Israeli occupation and confirmed that the Palestinian people are unarmed and fighting well armed occupiers.
“We want to spread the experience of popular resistance to become a way of thinking for our people and to constantly intensify it,” he said. “We should encourage the idea of economic boycott of the occupation authority, which has become one of the most effective tools in this resistance, and to make it a way of thinking for our people.”
He said Israel would not end its occupation if it does not see it as becoming costly for it.
Other speakers also praised the popular resistance saying that it proved to be an effective tool in the Palestinian struggle to end the Israeli occupation and confirmed that the Palestinian people are unarmed and fighting well armed occupiers.
An explosive device was detonated on Friday evening at an Israeli military vehicle near Sofa crossing to the southeast of Khan Younis. According to the Palestinian information center (PIC) reporter in Khan Younis, billows of smoke were seen rising in the vicinity of Sofa crossing following the explosion.
The reporter confirmed that an explosive device exploded at an armored vehicle stationed to the north of Sofa crossing, specifically near Al-Fakhari area.
He said that no one of the Palestinian resistance factions has yet claimed responsibility for the incident.
Immediately after the explosion, large military reinforcements under aerial cover arrived at the targeted area amid intensive gunfire.
It is still unknown if the Israeli vehicle had triggered a planted bomb during a limited incursion into the area.
In an earlier incident, a Gazan farmer suffered injuries during Israeli gunfire to the east of Jabaliya. The incident was reported as one of the Israeli army's repeated violations against the truce in Gaza.
The reporter confirmed that an explosive device exploded at an armored vehicle stationed to the north of Sofa crossing, specifically near Al-Fakhari area.
He said that no one of the Palestinian resistance factions has yet claimed responsibility for the incident.
Immediately after the explosion, large military reinforcements under aerial cover arrived at the targeted area amid intensive gunfire.
It is still unknown if the Israeli vehicle had triggered a planted bomb during a limited incursion into the area.
In an earlier incident, a Gazan farmer suffered injuries during Israeli gunfire to the east of Jabaliya. The incident was reported as one of the Israeli army's repeated violations against the truce in Gaza.
30 aug 2013
The Popular Resistance Movement called on Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza to get ready for any possible Israeli military aggression against the strip. Khaled Azbat, the spokesman for the movement, said that all facts on the ground prove the Israeli intentions to launch a military aggression against the strip, under Arab and international approval, in order to liquidate the Palestinian armed resistance especially.
The spokesman stressed the need to unite all national efforts on the ground and to postpone any political disagreement considering the prevailing atmosphere in the region.
The resistance weapons must remain directed against the Israeli enemy to thwart any attempt to target Palestinian resistance, he said, adding that the enemy knows well the resistance's ability to hit Israeli targets.
The spokesman stressed the need to unite all national efforts on the ground and to postpone any political disagreement considering the prevailing atmosphere in the region.
The resistance weapons must remain directed against the Israeli enemy to thwart any attempt to target Palestinian resistance, he said, adding that the enemy knows well the resistance's ability to hit Israeli targets.
Charge explodes near IDF force in southern Gaza Strip
An explosive charge was activated against an IDF force on patrol near the border in the southern Gaza Strip. No one was injured and no damage caused.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit stated the IDF views harshly any attempt to harm Israeli citizens and soldiers.
An explosive charge was activated against an IDF force on patrol near the border in the southern Gaza Strip. No one was injured and no damage caused.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit stated the IDF views harshly any attempt to harm Israeli citizens and soldiers.
29 aug 2013
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) has called for activating the armed resistance in occupied West Bank to deter Israeli forces and settlers' attacks. Zulfikar Suergo, PFLP central committee member, called on resistance factions to confront settlers' attacks and Israeli military raids. He stressed the need to provide an armed protection to the Palestinian people.
He pointed out that the continued negotiations and security coordination with the occupier provided a cover to the Israeli crimes in West Bank and restricted the Palestinian people’s ability to repel the Israeli settlers' provocative attacks and settlement expansion.
Suergo renewed, in a press release on Wednesday, the PFLP's position against the PA absurd negotiations with the Israeli authorities, calling for an end to the security coordination.
He pointed out that the continued negotiations and security coordination with the occupier provided a cover to the Israeli crimes in West Bank and restricted the Palestinian people’s ability to repel the Israeli settlers' provocative attacks and settlement expansion.
Suergo renewed, in a press release on Wednesday, the PFLP's position against the PA absurd negotiations with the Israeli authorities, calling for an end to the security coordination.
30 july 2013
A Qassam rocket exploded in an area at the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council on Tuesday morning, Yediot Ahranot Israeli newspaper reported.
The newspaper added that the rocket landed in an open area and that no injuries or damage were reported.
The newspaper added that the rocket landed in an open area and that no injuries or damage were reported.
24 july 2013
Two rockets fired from the Gaza Strip hit southern Israel on Wednesday but caused no damage or casualties, a police spokeswoman said.
"The rockets landed in the Eshkol region," Luba Samri told AFP, adding that "security forces are searching for their remains".
A lone rocket hit the same area on Sunday, and two hit southern Israel last Thursday, none causing any damage or casualties.
The last incident of cross-border fire between Israel and the Islamist Hamas-ruled Gaza was on June 24, when the Islamic Jihad group fired five rockets at Israel, which retaliated with air strikes.
As the ruling authority in Gaza, Hamas is responsible for ensuring that militant groups respect the terms of a truce brokered by Egypt that ended a major eight-day confrontation with Israel in November.
No traces of rockets, mortars found in Eshkol
Security forces completed their scans in the Eshkol Regional Council without locating traces of rockets or mortar shells that were fired at Israel. It is possible they landed inside the Gaza Strip. Loud blasts were heard in the area earlier on Wednesday.
"The rockets landed in the Eshkol region," Luba Samri told AFP, adding that "security forces are searching for their remains".
A lone rocket hit the same area on Sunday, and two hit southern Israel last Thursday, none causing any damage or casualties.
The last incident of cross-border fire between Israel and the Islamist Hamas-ruled Gaza was on June 24, when the Islamic Jihad group fired five rockets at Israel, which retaliated with air strikes.
As the ruling authority in Gaza, Hamas is responsible for ensuring that militant groups respect the terms of a truce brokered by Egypt that ended a major eight-day confrontation with Israel in November.
No traces of rockets, mortars found in Eshkol
Security forces completed their scans in the Eshkol Regional Council without locating traces of rockets or mortar shells that were fired at Israel. It is possible they landed inside the Gaza Strip. Loud blasts were heard in the area earlier on Wednesday.
22 july 2013
Militants in the Gaza Strip fired a rocket at southern Israel that exploded without causing damage or injuries, an Israeli police spokesman told AFP on Monday.
"It exploded near a kibbutz in the Eshkol region," shortly before midnight on Sunday, said Micky Rosenfeld, adding police were still searching for the remains of what he said was a Qassam rocket.
Last Thursday, two rockets fired from the Gaza Strip hit southern Israel, also causing no casualties or damage.
The last incident of cross-border fire between Israel and the Islamist Hamas-ruled Gaza was on June 24, when the radical Islamic Jihad group fired five rockets at Israel, which retaliated with air strikes.
As the ruling authority in Gaza, Hamas is responsible for ensuring that militant groups respect the terms of a truce brokered by Egypt that ended a major eight-day confrontation with Israel in November.
"It exploded near a kibbutz in the Eshkol region," shortly before midnight on Sunday, said Micky Rosenfeld, adding police were still searching for the remains of what he said was a Qassam rocket.
Last Thursday, two rockets fired from the Gaza Strip hit southern Israel, also causing no casualties or damage.
The last incident of cross-border fire between Israel and the Islamist Hamas-ruled Gaza was on June 24, when the radical Islamic Jihad group fired five rockets at Israel, which retaliated with air strikes.
As the ruling authority in Gaza, Hamas is responsible for ensuring that militant groups respect the terms of a truce brokered by Egypt that ended a major eight-day confrontation with Israel in November.
A rocket launched from the Gaza Strip exploded in an open area in the Eshkol Regional Council, south of Israel, Yediot Ahranot Israeli newspaper reported Monday.
The newspaper said that the rocket landed in an open area and that no injuries or damage were reported.
An alert siren sounded in the southern area of Israel and that the Israeli forces canvassed the area to locate the rocket, the newspaper added.
The newspaper said that the rocket landed in an open area and that no injuries or damage were reported.
An alert siren sounded in the southern area of Israel and that the Israeli forces canvassed the area to locate the rocket, the newspaper added.