14 dec 2014
Hamas is perhaps the most significant addition to the Palestinian struggle in the past three decades. 27 years ago, and exactly on Dec. 14th 1987, a handful of firmly committed Palestinians, most of whom were brutally assassinated in later years by the Israeli occupation forces, gathered in Gaza and decided it was high time they began a movement to complement and correct the resistance path.
Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Dr. Abedelaziz Al-Rantisi, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Maqadmah, Eng. Ismail Abu Shanab and many others are but examples of Hamas leadership sacrificing everything they have for the sake of a free Palestine and to end the oppression and injustices imposed on the Palestinians either by the alien occupying Zionists or their proxies now in charge of the Palestinian Authority.
Invaluable Asset
Hamas has been a valuable asset to the social, economic, political and armed Palestinian struggle for freedom and equal human rights. Ever since, the anniversary of the establishment of Hamas was celebrated where tens of thousands in the early 90’s to hundreds of thousands in the past few years would gather in support of Hamas and its ideology.
Hamas has become deeply rooted in the Palestinian struggle, and any attempt to get rid of Hamas was an attempt to weaken and put an end to any form of resistance against the occupation of Palestine. Hamas knew that. Palestinians knew that. And neither Hamas nor the Palestinian people would allow that to happen.
In 2006 Hamas was democratically elected, a crucial transition in the history of Hamas and Palestine. And clearly Hamas was not the horse Israel or the western powers bet on. And in a very barbaric and uncivilized move, the world backed Israel to impose a siege and wage three wars on Gaza to end Hamas rule and put an end to the free and democratic choice of the Palestinian people. Those immoral leaders and governments, who constantly preach morality, are responsible for the deaths of thousands of Palestinians.
A siege and three wars
For Hamas and for its rivals and the Israeli enemy, the anniversary is the yearly event that measures Hamas accomplishments and popularity. A mediaeval siege and three wars on Hamas and Gaza did not stop Hamas from celebrating its anniversary. This year, however, Hamas has decided not to hold its annual anniversary and rallies all across occupied Palestine—instead, Hamas decided that the money spent on the event would be directed to helping alleviate Palestinians’ suffering caused by recent Israeli aggression and massacres.
The war on Gaza
For Hamas, this year’s greatest contribution was preventing an Israeli invasion that could have occupied the whole Gaza Strip. Hamas resistance wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, fought tooth and nail and their resistance prevented much worse crimes and massacres than we have seen. Their creativity was evident in using tunnels dug manually, flying Palestinian-made drones, attacking behind enemy lines, and fighting heavily armed troops from point black and costing them heavy losses, snatching Israeli soldiers from their own armored carriers, and the thousands of home-made, long range Palestinian rockets that struck the heart of the Zionist de facto entity.
Still more, socially and politically, Hamas men and supporters managed to keep the internal front steadfast and resolute, despite the fact that Israeli horrific massacres and random shelling and premeditated targeting of hundreds of civilians aimed at destroying into smithereens Palestinian unprecedented steadfastness. But what’s even more worthy of praise is that the Palestinians of Gaza Strip understood their role in the struggle and thus in their own ways were part of the resistance spearheaded by Hamas fighters.
Hamas fighters
Hamas is not a set of foreign fighters or paid mercenaries. They are everybody’s brother, father, son, mother, sister, daughter or friend. The fighters are well-educated or at least well-read. They have a deep understanding of what it means to fight for one’s country. A quick preview at the list of martyrs in the last Israeli massacres in Gaza shows that Hamas fighters are not a bunch of people who have nothing else to lose as Israeli and western media love to portray them.
This war targeted all Palestinians, we have seen how so many of non-Hamas members supported Hamas and backed its resistance. Even harsh critics of Hamas believed Israel’s offensive does not target Hamas alone, but Palestinian resistance and determination to be free. They believed that a weak Hamas means a weak Palestinian cause. They chose to stand with Hamas. They chose to put their criticism and differences aside and stand united against Israeli massacres. And this is one Palestinian thing the world has to understand and Israeli chooses to destroy.
Israel failed, dismally
Hamas’s success was not only that. The achievements have come in the form of Israel’s failure to achieve any of its goals. Militarily, Israel was caught with its pants down as the whole world saw how very young Palestinians with modest weapons and training managed to tread on the so-called invincible army.
Israel was soon shouting out wolf and sending an SOS to the USA and asking for more ammunition. Hamas fighters’ courage and belief in their right managed to expose how fragile and brittle Israel is—the whole world saw how Israel’s only strength lies in its inhumanity in massacring the innocent, its Nazi-like measures of brutality, and its disregard of human life and human rights.
Even politically, the Zionist government has fallen apart. Palestinians know from experience that Israeli leaders wage wars and commit massacres for political gains. Israeli military industry also loves to have a war every couple of years. A war to Israeli officials, despite butchering thousands, is a cow that yields cash and votes!
Victory for the people
More than anyone else, Hamas realized that the victory they won was the victory of the whole people, the people who endured Nazi-Zionist barbarity and 51 days of random shelling and bombing. And today, on its 27th anniversary, Hamas is still returning the favor to the people that backed her up and stood with her on the most dreadfully painful days. The wanton devastation Israeli wreaked on Gazans meant to keep the wounds bleeding forever. And now Israeli is purposefully delaying reconstruction process of Gaza and abiding by the truce terms and conditions.
27 years ago, a handful of Hamas members were a crucial part of the first Palestinian intifada, throwing stones, barricading the roads so that the Israeli military jeeps do not pass, and fighting the occupiers’ brutality with Molotov, knives, and later on pistols. Today, 27 years later, Hamas has strategically improved and developed and grown militarily, socially, politically, and institutionally. Hamas now is capable of digging strategic tunnels, send drones over occupied Palestinian territories, and defend the Palestinian people against Israeli aggression without kneeling, without giving up Palestinian rights and demands.
Hamas is here to stay
Hamas is here to stay, and to build a Palestinian state by ending the racist Israeli occupation and its racist policies against non-Jews—a state where all can live in peace and equality regardless of their color, religion, political affiliation, or ideology.
Hamas cannot be wiped out or pushed into the sea despite the Israeli occupation, PA, neighboring countries and western powers uniting and conspiring against it. Hamas is a genuine part of the Palestinian community and in less than 30 years of its establishment, Hamas managed to contribute immensely to Palestine and to freedom and justice.
Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Dr. Abedelaziz Al-Rantisi, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Maqadmah, Eng. Ismail Abu Shanab and many others are but examples of Hamas leadership sacrificing everything they have for the sake of a free Palestine and to end the oppression and injustices imposed on the Palestinians either by the alien occupying Zionists or their proxies now in charge of the Palestinian Authority.
Invaluable Asset
Hamas has been a valuable asset to the social, economic, political and armed Palestinian struggle for freedom and equal human rights. Ever since, the anniversary of the establishment of Hamas was celebrated where tens of thousands in the early 90’s to hundreds of thousands in the past few years would gather in support of Hamas and its ideology.
Hamas has become deeply rooted in the Palestinian struggle, and any attempt to get rid of Hamas was an attempt to weaken and put an end to any form of resistance against the occupation of Palestine. Hamas knew that. Palestinians knew that. And neither Hamas nor the Palestinian people would allow that to happen.
In 2006 Hamas was democratically elected, a crucial transition in the history of Hamas and Palestine. And clearly Hamas was not the horse Israel or the western powers bet on. And in a very barbaric and uncivilized move, the world backed Israel to impose a siege and wage three wars on Gaza to end Hamas rule and put an end to the free and democratic choice of the Palestinian people. Those immoral leaders and governments, who constantly preach morality, are responsible for the deaths of thousands of Palestinians.
A siege and three wars
For Hamas and for its rivals and the Israeli enemy, the anniversary is the yearly event that measures Hamas accomplishments and popularity. A mediaeval siege and three wars on Hamas and Gaza did not stop Hamas from celebrating its anniversary. This year, however, Hamas has decided not to hold its annual anniversary and rallies all across occupied Palestine—instead, Hamas decided that the money spent on the event would be directed to helping alleviate Palestinians’ suffering caused by recent Israeli aggression and massacres.
The war on Gaza
For Hamas, this year’s greatest contribution was preventing an Israeli invasion that could have occupied the whole Gaza Strip. Hamas resistance wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, fought tooth and nail and their resistance prevented much worse crimes and massacres than we have seen. Their creativity was evident in using tunnels dug manually, flying Palestinian-made drones, attacking behind enemy lines, and fighting heavily armed troops from point black and costing them heavy losses, snatching Israeli soldiers from their own armored carriers, and the thousands of home-made, long range Palestinian rockets that struck the heart of the Zionist de facto entity.
Still more, socially and politically, Hamas men and supporters managed to keep the internal front steadfast and resolute, despite the fact that Israeli horrific massacres and random shelling and premeditated targeting of hundreds of civilians aimed at destroying into smithereens Palestinian unprecedented steadfastness. But what’s even more worthy of praise is that the Palestinians of Gaza Strip understood their role in the struggle and thus in their own ways were part of the resistance spearheaded by Hamas fighters.
Hamas fighters
Hamas is not a set of foreign fighters or paid mercenaries. They are everybody’s brother, father, son, mother, sister, daughter or friend. The fighters are well-educated or at least well-read. They have a deep understanding of what it means to fight for one’s country. A quick preview at the list of martyrs in the last Israeli massacres in Gaza shows that Hamas fighters are not a bunch of people who have nothing else to lose as Israeli and western media love to portray them.
This war targeted all Palestinians, we have seen how so many of non-Hamas members supported Hamas and backed its resistance. Even harsh critics of Hamas believed Israel’s offensive does not target Hamas alone, but Palestinian resistance and determination to be free. They believed that a weak Hamas means a weak Palestinian cause. They chose to stand with Hamas. They chose to put their criticism and differences aside and stand united against Israeli massacres. And this is one Palestinian thing the world has to understand and Israeli chooses to destroy.
Israel failed, dismally
Hamas’s success was not only that. The achievements have come in the form of Israel’s failure to achieve any of its goals. Militarily, Israel was caught with its pants down as the whole world saw how very young Palestinians with modest weapons and training managed to tread on the so-called invincible army.
Israel was soon shouting out wolf and sending an SOS to the USA and asking for more ammunition. Hamas fighters’ courage and belief in their right managed to expose how fragile and brittle Israel is—the whole world saw how Israel’s only strength lies in its inhumanity in massacring the innocent, its Nazi-like measures of brutality, and its disregard of human life and human rights.
Even politically, the Zionist government has fallen apart. Palestinians know from experience that Israeli leaders wage wars and commit massacres for political gains. Israeli military industry also loves to have a war every couple of years. A war to Israeli officials, despite butchering thousands, is a cow that yields cash and votes!
Victory for the people
More than anyone else, Hamas realized that the victory they won was the victory of the whole people, the people who endured Nazi-Zionist barbarity and 51 days of random shelling and bombing. And today, on its 27th anniversary, Hamas is still returning the favor to the people that backed her up and stood with her on the most dreadfully painful days. The wanton devastation Israeli wreaked on Gazans meant to keep the wounds bleeding forever. And now Israeli is purposefully delaying reconstruction process of Gaza and abiding by the truce terms and conditions.
27 years ago, a handful of Hamas members were a crucial part of the first Palestinian intifada, throwing stones, barricading the roads so that the Israeli military jeeps do not pass, and fighting the occupiers’ brutality with Molotov, knives, and later on pistols. Today, 27 years later, Hamas has strategically improved and developed and grown militarily, socially, politically, and institutionally. Hamas now is capable of digging strategic tunnels, send drones over occupied Palestinian territories, and defend the Palestinian people against Israeli aggression without kneeling, without giving up Palestinian rights and demands.
Hamas is here to stay
Hamas is here to stay, and to build a Palestinian state by ending the racist Israeli occupation and its racist policies against non-Jews—a state where all can live in peace and equality regardless of their color, religion, political affiliation, or ideology.
Hamas cannot be wiped out or pushed into the sea despite the Israeli occupation, PA, neighboring countries and western powers uniting and conspiring against it. Hamas is a genuine part of the Palestinian community and in less than 30 years of its establishment, Hamas managed to contribute immensely to Palestine and to freedom and justice.
Thousands of Palestinians took to Gaza streets to join a mass-parade staged by Hamas to mark the 27th anniversary of the Movement's founding.
77-year-old Um Khaled who partook in the rally said: “This is the duty of every Palestinian. We’re gathering today to commemorate the birthday of our most cherished daughter—Hamas—who has taught the word the real meaning of dignity and magnanimity.”
The marchers waved Palestinian flags and yelled pro-resistance slogans.
The military procession paid homage to the Qassam resistance fighters who have always stood their grounds against the Israeli occupation.
“This is the least we can do. Al-Qassam Brigades have been standing as a bullet-proof-vest to all Palestinians”, Ahmad Sayed, 33, said as he carried his little son on his shoulders.
“The achievements of Hamas are the only ones of their kinds,” he added.
Addressing the large crowds, Abu Ubayda, the spokesman of Al-Qassam Brigades, said: “The 27th anniversary wasn't only a Hamas anniversary, but one which awakened the spirit of resistance in the whole Nation.”
“This anniversary is a major turning point in the region's history,” he added. “Hamas has re-written history with its unbreakable will.”
“Al-Qassam Brigades has been restocking weapons since the mid 80’s. The despotism of the Israeli colonizer has been a stumbling block. . . Hamas has laid a bet on its heroic fighters and weapons at a time when other parties took a gamble on breaking its iron will. But Hamas has won the challenge,” he said.
The spokesman for al-Qassam Brigades hailed all pro-Palestine activists, states, and institutions that have stood by the Palestinian resistance.
He hailed Iran for having restocked the Palestinian resistance with rockets and anti-tanks which toppled the myth of the so-called invincible army.
He further paid tribute to Turkey and Qatar for having always backed up the Palestinian resistance.
Abu Ubayda further saluted the families of the Palestinian martyrs , casualties, and prisoners.
Addressing Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, Abu Ubayda said that "the day you will see the light of freedom has become closer than any point in the past, so you needn't bother thinking of numbers, figures, alive, dead, bodies, torn-off limbs or how and when."
The spokesman slammed a proposed Israeli Knesset resolution to ban the release of Palestinian prisoners, saying: "to us, it's not worth the ink used in writing it."
"Ask your leaders in which desert they lost your soldiers, and to what unknown destiny they sent them and continue to send them," Abu Ubayda said addressing the Israeli public.
He added that they should ask the leaders and army commanders to tell the truth about what happened to the Israeli soldiers in Gaza.
We warn of the moment of explosion which won’t be in the interest of occupation," he said.
"Hamas and its brigades knew how history should be written and they prepared for that in blood and are still doing the same but in an escalating manner."
77-year-old Um Khaled who partook in the rally said: “This is the duty of every Palestinian. We’re gathering today to commemorate the birthday of our most cherished daughter—Hamas—who has taught the word the real meaning of dignity and magnanimity.”
The marchers waved Palestinian flags and yelled pro-resistance slogans.
The military procession paid homage to the Qassam resistance fighters who have always stood their grounds against the Israeli occupation.
“This is the least we can do. Al-Qassam Brigades have been standing as a bullet-proof-vest to all Palestinians”, Ahmad Sayed, 33, said as he carried his little son on his shoulders.
“The achievements of Hamas are the only ones of their kinds,” he added.
Addressing the large crowds, Abu Ubayda, the spokesman of Al-Qassam Brigades, said: “The 27th anniversary wasn't only a Hamas anniversary, but one which awakened the spirit of resistance in the whole Nation.”
“This anniversary is a major turning point in the region's history,” he added. “Hamas has re-written history with its unbreakable will.”
“Al-Qassam Brigades has been restocking weapons since the mid 80’s. The despotism of the Israeli colonizer has been a stumbling block. . . Hamas has laid a bet on its heroic fighters and weapons at a time when other parties took a gamble on breaking its iron will. But Hamas has won the challenge,” he said.
The spokesman for al-Qassam Brigades hailed all pro-Palestine activists, states, and institutions that have stood by the Palestinian resistance.
He hailed Iran for having restocked the Palestinian resistance with rockets and anti-tanks which toppled the myth of the so-called invincible army.
He further paid tribute to Turkey and Qatar for having always backed up the Palestinian resistance.
Abu Ubayda further saluted the families of the Palestinian martyrs , casualties, and prisoners.
Addressing Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, Abu Ubayda said that "the day you will see the light of freedom has become closer than any point in the past, so you needn't bother thinking of numbers, figures, alive, dead, bodies, torn-off limbs or how and when."
The spokesman slammed a proposed Israeli Knesset resolution to ban the release of Palestinian prisoners, saying: "to us, it's not worth the ink used in writing it."
"Ask your leaders in which desert they lost your soldiers, and to what unknown destiny they sent them and continue to send them," Abu Ubayda said addressing the Israeli public.
He added that they should ask the leaders and army commanders to tell the truth about what happened to the Israeli soldiers in Gaza.
We warn of the moment of explosion which won’t be in the interest of occupation," he said.
"Hamas and its brigades knew how history should be written and they prepared for that in blood and are still doing the same but in an escalating manner."
Member of the political bureau of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Kayed al-Ghoul called on the Palestinian Authority (PA) to thoroughly assess its experiences with the Israeli occupation and launch a comprehensive confrontation with the Israeli occupation and its institutions.
Al-Ghoul said in a press statement Sunday: “Today we’re facing an entity entrenched in racist and fascist dogmas perpetrated by the Netanyahu government, whose members have been inciting for killing Palestinians.”
He said simmering pre-planned murders against Palestinians, most notably Ziyad Abu Ein, strangled to death, and the child Mohamed Abu Khdeir, burned to death, are a result of such dogmas.
Al-Ghoul called for the need to halt security coordination and the cancellation of all of the deals struck with the Israeli occupation, which has been manipulating pre-planned terror tactics to wipe out Palestinians.
He pushed for a standpoint to be adopted by the Palestinian leadership as a means to restore the occupied Palestinian territories from the grips of the Israeli enemy on the basis of a unified national strategy that also restores Palestinians’ rights.
He further stressed the need to press ahead with restructuring national institutions on a democratic and joint basis in which all parties take part.
He said one of the objectives of the Kerry-Netanyahu meeting in Italy is the resumption of the bilateral negotiations in an attempt to mislead the international community into believing in the possibility of establishing a Palestinian independent state.
He warned of Israel-U.S attempts to deal a heavy blow to the rising wave of pro-Palestine moves.
A-Ghoul called on the Palestinian leadership to be on the alert to such promises and never yield in to any pressures aimed at resuming the peace talks.
He said halting the security coordination with the Israeli occupation is a necessary move to boost up national unity and face up to the Israeli occupation.
Al-Ghoul said in a press statement Sunday: “Today we’re facing an entity entrenched in racist and fascist dogmas perpetrated by the Netanyahu government, whose members have been inciting for killing Palestinians.”
He said simmering pre-planned murders against Palestinians, most notably Ziyad Abu Ein, strangled to death, and the child Mohamed Abu Khdeir, burned to death, are a result of such dogmas.
Al-Ghoul called for the need to halt security coordination and the cancellation of all of the deals struck with the Israeli occupation, which has been manipulating pre-planned terror tactics to wipe out Palestinians.
He pushed for a standpoint to be adopted by the Palestinian leadership as a means to restore the occupied Palestinian territories from the grips of the Israeli enemy on the basis of a unified national strategy that also restores Palestinians’ rights.
He further stressed the need to press ahead with restructuring national institutions on a democratic and joint basis in which all parties take part.
He said one of the objectives of the Kerry-Netanyahu meeting in Italy is the resumption of the bilateral negotiations in an attempt to mislead the international community into believing in the possibility of establishing a Palestinian independent state.
He warned of Israel-U.S attempts to deal a heavy blow to the rising wave of pro-Palestine moves.
A-Ghoul called on the Palestinian leadership to be on the alert to such promises and never yield in to any pressures aimed at resuming the peace talks.
He said halting the security coordination with the Israeli occupation is a necessary move to boost up national unity and face up to the Israeli occupation.
Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said it would organize a military parade in Gaza City on Sunday.
In a press release on Saturday, the Brigades stated that its parade would march at about 12 o'clock in the afternoon from Gaza port and stop in al-Jalaa street inside the city.
There will be military formations and displays during the event, and spokesman for the Brigades Abu Obeida will deliver a speech on the 27th anniversary of the Hamas Movement's inception.
Massive marches were organized on Friday in different areas of Gaza in celebration of the Movement's foundation anniversary.
Hamas had decided to cancel its anniversary festival for this this year because of the difficult humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
In a press release on Saturday, the Brigades stated that its parade would march at about 12 o'clock in the afternoon from Gaza port and stop in al-Jalaa street inside the city.
There will be military formations and displays during the event, and spokesman for the Brigades Abu Obeida will deliver a speech on the 27th anniversary of the Hamas Movement's inception.
Massive marches were organized on Friday in different areas of Gaza in celebration of the Movement's foundation anniversary.
Hamas had decided to cancel its anniversary festival for this this year because of the difficult humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
Historiographers have recently spotlighted the mounting underhanded Israeli-Saudi partnership, bolstered under the red herring of intents to fight political Islamism and terrorism in the region.
A fuss has been lately triggered by a visit paid by the shadowy chief of Israel's Mossad spy agency Tamir Pardo to his Saudi counterpart, local Hebrew sources said quoting Israeli security apparatuses.
The same sources said Saudi Arabia is expected to supply Israel with oil, a scenario that was not ruled out by Saudi officials themselves.
The Saudi Arabian Minister of Petroleum Ali Al-Naimi said his government is ready to sell oil to all world countries.
“Israel is recognized by most of the world’s states,” sources quoted the minister as further claiming. “Nothing prevents trade cooperation with Israel.”
The Saudi Arabia-Israel partnership, which had always been carried out in the shades, have emerged to the surface and become as evident as day light.
Prof. Joshua Teitelbaum, a researcher at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at the Bar-Ilan University, said such deals between the two parties are likely to result in a Saudi back-up to the Israeli occupation in case the latter opts to hit Iran’s nuclear installations.
He pointed to the key-role played by the U.S. administration in the current deals struck between the two parties.
The shift from a state of underhandedness to a lack-of-guile phase as far as the Saudi-Israeli ties are concerned does not just fit the former’s intents to fashion an image for itself as the lookout-tower of Islam, so it might stop such cooperation in the event its image was harmed, Prof. Teitelbaum added.
A fuss has been lately triggered by a visit paid by the shadowy chief of Israel's Mossad spy agency Tamir Pardo to his Saudi counterpart, local Hebrew sources said quoting Israeli security apparatuses.
The same sources said Saudi Arabia is expected to supply Israel with oil, a scenario that was not ruled out by Saudi officials themselves.
The Saudi Arabian Minister of Petroleum Ali Al-Naimi said his government is ready to sell oil to all world countries.
“Israel is recognized by most of the world’s states,” sources quoted the minister as further claiming. “Nothing prevents trade cooperation with Israel.”
The Saudi Arabia-Israel partnership, which had always been carried out in the shades, have emerged to the surface and become as evident as day light.
Prof. Joshua Teitelbaum, a researcher at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at the Bar-Ilan University, said such deals between the two parties are likely to result in a Saudi back-up to the Israeli occupation in case the latter opts to hit Iran’s nuclear installations.
He pointed to the key-role played by the U.S. administration in the current deals struck between the two parties.
The shift from a state of underhandedness to a lack-of-guile phase as far as the Saudi-Israeli ties are concerned does not just fit the former’s intents to fashion an image for itself as the lookout-tower of Islam, so it might stop such cooperation in the event its image was harmed, Prof. Teitelbaum added.
Hamas on Saturday said that dozens of its affiliates were arrested by the Palestinian Authority (PA) apparatuses in the West Bank city of al-Khalil a day earlier, dubbing the move a barefaced evidence of ongoing security coordination between the PA and the Israeli occupation.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said dozens of the group’s members were captured on Friday evening as they joined a rally commemorating the Movement’s founding.
"These arrests are clear proofs that the security coordination between the PA and the Israeli occupation is still going on," Abu Zuhri said in a statement.
According to Abu Zuhri, dozens of Hamas advocates were arrested by the PA security agencies in al-Khalil when they marched to mark the 27th anniversary of the launch of the Movement.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army destroyed a stage that was due to be used for the anniversary ceremony in al-Khalil, he added.
Earlier this week, Palestinian officials threatened to suspend security coordination with the Israeli occupation in protest at the murder of senior Palestinian official Ziyad Abu Ein, who breathed his last during an attack launched by the Israeli army troops to disband a peaceful West Bank march on Wednesday.
No decision has yet been openly opted for by the PA officials on the matter. A decision is expected to be released in a Sunday meeting to be convened by the PA leadership.
The notorious 1993 Washington-brokered Oslo Accords between the Israeli occupation and the Palestinian Authority stipulated that the latter would prevent attacks on the Israel occupation and exchange data on security matters to that end.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said dozens of the group’s members were captured on Friday evening as they joined a rally commemorating the Movement’s founding.
"These arrests are clear proofs that the security coordination between the PA and the Israeli occupation is still going on," Abu Zuhri said in a statement.
According to Abu Zuhri, dozens of Hamas advocates were arrested by the PA security agencies in al-Khalil when they marched to mark the 27th anniversary of the launch of the Movement.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army destroyed a stage that was due to be used for the anniversary ceremony in al-Khalil, he added.
Earlier this week, Palestinian officials threatened to suspend security coordination with the Israeli occupation in protest at the murder of senior Palestinian official Ziyad Abu Ein, who breathed his last during an attack launched by the Israeli army troops to disband a peaceful West Bank march on Wednesday.
No decision has yet been openly opted for by the PA officials on the matter. A decision is expected to be released in a Sunday meeting to be convened by the PA leadership.
The notorious 1993 Washington-brokered Oslo Accords between the Israeli occupation and the Palestinian Authority stipulated that the latter would prevent attacks on the Israel occupation and exchange data on security matters to that end.
13 dec 2014
Palestinian and foreign activists have launched a global solidarity campaign on the internet highlighting the blockade on the Gaza Strip and its power crisis.
"We will not leave Gaza alone in the dark … We will turn off lights everywhere" is the slogan of this campaign, which has been publicized on social networking sites in several languages under the hashtag #GazaLights.
This solidarity event will begin next Friday and all people around the world are invited to stand and turn off the lights for 60 minutes between 7-8 pm local time for each city.
The symbolic event, which started in social media and networking applications used in smart phones, is aimed at making the people around the world experience some of the reality of being under siege and drawing the attention of the world's governments to the suffering of Gazans.
It will also expand daily to include interactive mediums in capitals and cities across Europe and the world.
In addition to turning off lights in houses, businesses and facilities, activists from several countries decided to organize other events serving the same purpose, including candlelit vigils, to send a message of solidarity with the Gaza people.
Some activists made posters in a number of languages expressing solidarity with the Palestinian families in the besieged Strip.
The Palestinians in Gaza suffer from power outages for long hours resulting from several problems that exacerbated after the last Israeli war, including poor electricity infrastructure, shortage of industrial fuel required to generate power and technical issues with Gaza's power plant.
Gaza's sole power plant also stopped working during the war after its main fuel tanks were bombed by the Israeli army.
"We will not leave Gaza alone in the dark … We will turn off lights everywhere" is the slogan of this campaign, which has been publicized on social networking sites in several languages under the hashtag #GazaLights.
This solidarity event will begin next Friday and all people around the world are invited to stand and turn off the lights for 60 minutes between 7-8 pm local time for each city.
The symbolic event, which started in social media and networking applications used in smart phones, is aimed at making the people around the world experience some of the reality of being under siege and drawing the attention of the world's governments to the suffering of Gazans.
It will also expand daily to include interactive mediums in capitals and cities across Europe and the world.
In addition to turning off lights in houses, businesses and facilities, activists from several countries decided to organize other events serving the same purpose, including candlelit vigils, to send a message of solidarity with the Gaza people.
Some activists made posters in a number of languages expressing solidarity with the Palestinian families in the besieged Strip.
The Palestinians in Gaza suffer from power outages for long hours resulting from several problems that exacerbated after the last Israeli war, including poor electricity infrastructure, shortage of industrial fuel required to generate power and technical issues with Gaza's power plant.
Gaza's sole power plant also stopped working during the war after its main fuel tanks were bombed by the Israeli army.
São Bento Palace, Lisbon
The Portuguese parliament adopted, on Friday, a recommendation calling on the government to recognize the Palestinian state, drawing votes from the majority and opposition.
The motion, AFP reports, was filed jointly by the ruling center-right majority and the opposition Socialist party, proposing recognition "in coordination with the European Union, the state of Palestine as independent and sovereign".
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki stated, in response to the motion,that Palestinian diplomacy had achieved another victory and that Palestinian leadership was pushing for more of such achievements.
Al-Maliki expressed his gratitude to Portugal and the Portuguese people for the recognition, thanking all parties.
The Portuguese parliament adopted, on Friday, a recommendation calling on the government to recognize the Palestinian state, drawing votes from the majority and opposition.
The motion, AFP reports, was filed jointly by the ruling center-right majority and the opposition Socialist party, proposing recognition "in coordination with the European Union, the state of Palestine as independent and sovereign".
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki stated, in response to the motion,that Palestinian diplomacy had achieved another victory and that Palestinian leadership was pushing for more of such achievements.
Al-Maliki expressed his gratitude to Portugal and the Portuguese people for the recognition, thanking all parties.
12 dec 2014
Tens of thousands participated on Friday in the massive marches in northern, central, and southern Gaza Strip organized to commemorate the 27th inception anniversary of Hamas Movement.
Hamas leaders along with representatives of various factions and Hamas boy scouts and masked armed men were at the vanguard of those marches that hoisted photos of martyrs and Hamas’s green banners.
A number of marches started from mosques after the Friday prayers then gathered in one massive march in each of the northern, central and southern regions of the Strip.
Hamas leaders along with representatives of various factions and Hamas boy scouts and masked armed men were at the vanguard of those marches that hoisted photos of martyrs and Hamas’s green banners.
A number of marches started from mosques after the Friday prayers then gathered in one massive march in each of the northern, central and southern regions of the Strip.
Unidentified gunmen at dawn Friday opened fire at the house and vehicle of Hamas-affiliated lawmaker Azzam Salhab in the West Bank city of al-Khalil, leading to serious material damage.
A PIC correspondent quoted Salhab’s son Nomaan as saying that his father’s car sustained severe damage after it was showered with a hail of bullets fired from an M16 rifle and a handgun.
He said the attack aims at causing panic among the family members and send a threat message to them.
The family called the police, but they said they could not come at dawn and promised to come in the morning.
The Israeli occupation forces had arrested Salhab in June following the disappearance of three Israeli settlers from the West Bank city of al-Khalil.
Salhab is currently serving an administrative sentence in the Israeli Negev desert jail.
Hamas on Friday slammed the shooting incident and called on the unity government to launch a swift probe into the attack.
“This is a pre-planned shooting attack aimed at terrorizing MPs and their families,” the Movement said in a statement.
The incident has not been the only one of its kind, Hamas added, holding Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah fully responsible for the assault.
The group urged A interior minister Rami Hamdallah to investigate the attack and take legal action against the perpetrators.
A PIC correspondent quoted Salhab’s son Nomaan as saying that his father’s car sustained severe damage after it was showered with a hail of bullets fired from an M16 rifle and a handgun.
He said the attack aims at causing panic among the family members and send a threat message to them.
The family called the police, but they said they could not come at dawn and promised to come in the morning.
The Israeli occupation forces had arrested Salhab in June following the disappearance of three Israeli settlers from the West Bank city of al-Khalil.
Salhab is currently serving an administrative sentence in the Israeli Negev desert jail.
Hamas on Friday slammed the shooting incident and called on the unity government to launch a swift probe into the attack.
“This is a pre-planned shooting attack aimed at terrorizing MPs and their families,” the Movement said in a statement.
The incident has not been the only one of its kind, Hamas added, holding Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah fully responsible for the assault.
The group urged A interior minister Rami Hamdallah to investigate the attack and take legal action against the perpetrators.
11 dec 2014
Ziad Abu Ein
The Palestinian leadership has ended all security coordination with Israel in response to the death of Minister Ziad Abu Ein Wednesday following clashes with Israeli soldiers.
Jibril Rajoub told press that the Palestinian Authority (PA) will end "all forms of security coordination with Israel for deliberately killing Minister Ziad Abu Ein."
This was a move called for by all Palestinian political parties.
Israel's Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said in an official statement that "The incident in which Ziad Abu Ein dies is being investigated by the IDF. We regret his death. We have offered the Palestinian Authority a joint investigation, and there will be a joint autopsy of Abu Ein's body."
President Mahmoud Abbas said on Wednesday evening that all options to respond to the killing of a Palestinian minister are up for debate. Senior PLO official Hanan Ashrawi said the Palestinian leadership demands an independent, neutral investigation into this latest Israeli crime, calling for an end to impunity for Israeli violations.
"Israel's use of excessive and indiscriminate violence constitutes war crimes under international law”, Ashrawi added. “Israel habitually uses extreme violence, especially against non-violent resistance, and Ziad was guilty of nothing more insidious than planting olive trees on Palestinian land that Israel was attempting to steal."
The Palestinian leadership has ended all security coordination with Israel in response to the death of Minister Ziad Abu Ein Wednesday following clashes with Israeli soldiers.
Jibril Rajoub told press that the Palestinian Authority (PA) will end "all forms of security coordination with Israel for deliberately killing Minister Ziad Abu Ein."
This was a move called for by all Palestinian political parties.
Israel's Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said in an official statement that "The incident in which Ziad Abu Ein dies is being investigated by the IDF. We regret his death. We have offered the Palestinian Authority a joint investigation, and there will be a joint autopsy of Abu Ein's body."
President Mahmoud Abbas said on Wednesday evening that all options to respond to the killing of a Palestinian minister are up for debate. Senior PLO official Hanan Ashrawi said the Palestinian leadership demands an independent, neutral investigation into this latest Israeli crime, calling for an end to impunity for Israeli violations.
"Israel's use of excessive and indiscriminate violence constitutes war crimes under international law”, Ashrawi added. “Israel habitually uses extreme violence, especially against non-violent resistance, and Ziad was guilty of nothing more insidious than planting olive trees on Palestinian land that Israel was attempting to steal."
The French Senate on Thursday voted on a draft resolution calling on the French government to recognize Palestine as a state.
The French senators stressed the need for the establishment of a Palestinian state, however they disagreed about the mechanisms and timing to recognize the Palestinian statehood.
The escalating tensions would never lead to peace and stability in the region, the senators said in reference to PA minister Ziad Abu Ein’s murder.
The French Senate’s members also condemned the Israeli ongoing settlement construction and violence in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The French Senate is led by Nicolas Sarkozy's right-wing Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party, while the Parliament has a left-wing majority led by the French Socialist Party.
French senators voted 153 to 146 in favor of a resolution calling on the government to recognize the state of Palestine, despite the Israeli excessive pressures to cancel such recognition.
Earlier this month, French MPs voted 339 to 151 in favor of a motion urging the government to recognize the state of Palestine as a way of achieving a "definitive resolution of the conflict."
Similar symbolic motions were made in France, the United Kingdom and Spain. The current wave of parliamentary moves began in October after the Swedish government became the first country in Western Europe to recognize a Palestinian state.
The European Parliament is scheduled also to vote on a motion to recognize Palestine on December 18.
The French senators stressed the need for the establishment of a Palestinian state, however they disagreed about the mechanisms and timing to recognize the Palestinian statehood.
The escalating tensions would never lead to peace and stability in the region, the senators said in reference to PA minister Ziad Abu Ein’s murder.
The French Senate’s members also condemned the Israeli ongoing settlement construction and violence in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The French Senate is led by Nicolas Sarkozy's right-wing Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party, while the Parliament has a left-wing majority led by the French Socialist Party.
French senators voted 153 to 146 in favor of a resolution calling on the government to recognize the state of Palestine, despite the Israeli excessive pressures to cancel such recognition.
Earlier this month, French MPs voted 339 to 151 in favor of a motion urging the government to recognize the state of Palestine as a way of achieving a "definitive resolution of the conflict."
Similar symbolic motions were made in France, the United Kingdom and Spain. The current wave of parliamentary moves began in October after the Swedish government became the first country in Western Europe to recognize a Palestinian state.
The European Parliament is scheduled also to vote on a motion to recognize Palestine on December 18.
The Irish parliament approved late Wednesday a non-binding resolution calling on the government to symbolically recognize the state of Palestine.
The motion urges the Irish government to officially recognize Palestine as established in UN resolutions.
The motion also states that "the symbolic recognition of the Palestinian statehood would be a further positive contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."
The Irish government did not yet accept the motion proposed by the opposition Sinn Fein party; however the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan declared his government's support for a two-state solution.
Sinn Fein party leader Gerry Adams, who was recently prevented by Israel from visiting Gaza, considered the motion as hopeful.
The European Parliament is scheduled to vote on a motion to recognize Palestine on December 18.
Similar symbolic motions were made in France, the United Kingdom and Spain. The current wave of parliamentary moves began in October after the Swedish government became the most significant country in Western Europe to recognize a Palestinian state.
The motion urges the Irish government to officially recognize Palestine as established in UN resolutions.
The motion also states that "the symbolic recognition of the Palestinian statehood would be a further positive contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."
The Irish government did not yet accept the motion proposed by the opposition Sinn Fein party; however the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan declared his government's support for a two-state solution.
Sinn Fein party leader Gerry Adams, who was recently prevented by Israel from visiting Gaza, considered the motion as hopeful.
The European Parliament is scheduled to vote on a motion to recognize Palestine on December 18.
Similar symbolic motions were made in France, the United Kingdom and Spain. The current wave of parliamentary moves began in October after the Swedish government became the most significant country in Western Europe to recognize a Palestinian state.