26 may 2015
Alarms sound in Ashdod and the Lachish area near Kiryat Gat; 'There was a siren and we heard a big explosion.'
Code red sirens sounded in Ashdod and Lachish near Kiryat Gat in southern Israel Tuesday evening just after 9 p.m. An IDF Spokesperson confirmed that one rocket fired from Gaza had landed near Gan Yavne.
Tuesday's attack was the first time since last year's 50 day Operation Protective Edge in Gaza that a grad rocket was fired into Israeli territory. It was initially unclear who was responsible for the fire, but police said that there were no reports of injuries or damage sustained in the attack.
Hamas media outlets reported that the organization began evacuating all its security headquarters for fear of an Israeli reprisal to the attack. The evacuation is expected to continue into the morning hours.
One resident in Lachish said, "There was a siren and we heard a big explosion." A woman in Be'er Tuvia however, just several kilometers from Gan Yavne and the site where the rocket reportedly struck said, "I didn't here any sirens, just a really loud explosion."
Another resident from Kibbutz Hatzor said, "We heard a really loud explosion, so loud that the walls of our house shook. It was really scary."
Zionist Union MK Omer Bar-Lev, a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, recently warned that Hamas had resumed digging tunnels and that at least one may have already crossed the border into Israeli territory.
Israel Claims A Rocket Was Fired From Gaza Into Southern Area
Israeli military sources claimed one rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip into an area in the southern part of the country, and that the army confirmed sirens went off, and that the residents “heard a loud explosion.”
Israeli daily Haaretz has reported that the sirens were sounded in the Lachish Regional Council of Settlements, around 9 at night on Tuesday, in the Lachish Regional Council of Settlements, and that military sources confirmed at least one missile was fired from the coastal region.
The reported rocket exploded, according to Haaretz, in an open area close to Gan Yavne settlement, nearly twenty kilometers north of Gaza, and that the army has "identified the shooting position to be coming from Gaza.”
According to Israeli security sources, fighters of the Islamic Jihad fired the rocket, over what they called an internal conflict between the movement’s ranks after a new military leader was appointed to head the northern Gaza branch.
It added that the Israeli response to the rocket fire will likely be limited, and that Israel will blame Hamas for it.
None of the armed groups in Gaza have claimed responsibility for the alleged rocket fire.
The Interior Ministry in Gaza decided to vacate its headquarters due to a possible Israeli military escalation.
Nafeth Azzam, a prominent political leader of the Islamic Jihad, denied the Israeli allegations, and said the movement has nothing to do with the reported incident.
Also read Oxfam report April 2015, more than 400 Israeli violations [PDF]
Code red sirens sounded in Ashdod and Lachish near Kiryat Gat in southern Israel Tuesday evening just after 9 p.m. An IDF Spokesperson confirmed that one rocket fired from Gaza had landed near Gan Yavne.
Tuesday's attack was the first time since last year's 50 day Operation Protective Edge in Gaza that a grad rocket was fired into Israeli territory. It was initially unclear who was responsible for the fire, but police said that there were no reports of injuries or damage sustained in the attack.
Hamas media outlets reported that the organization began evacuating all its security headquarters for fear of an Israeli reprisal to the attack. The evacuation is expected to continue into the morning hours.
One resident in Lachish said, "There was a siren and we heard a big explosion." A woman in Be'er Tuvia however, just several kilometers from Gan Yavne and the site where the rocket reportedly struck said, "I didn't here any sirens, just a really loud explosion."
Another resident from Kibbutz Hatzor said, "We heard a really loud explosion, so loud that the walls of our house shook. It was really scary."
Zionist Union MK Omer Bar-Lev, a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, recently warned that Hamas had resumed digging tunnels and that at least one may have already crossed the border into Israeli territory.
Israel Claims A Rocket Was Fired From Gaza Into Southern Area
Israeli military sources claimed one rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip into an area in the southern part of the country, and that the army confirmed sirens went off, and that the residents “heard a loud explosion.”
Israeli daily Haaretz has reported that the sirens were sounded in the Lachish Regional Council of Settlements, around 9 at night on Tuesday, in the Lachish Regional Council of Settlements, and that military sources confirmed at least one missile was fired from the coastal region.
The reported rocket exploded, according to Haaretz, in an open area close to Gan Yavne settlement, nearly twenty kilometers north of Gaza, and that the army has "identified the shooting position to be coming from Gaza.”
According to Israeli security sources, fighters of the Islamic Jihad fired the rocket, over what they called an internal conflict between the movement’s ranks after a new military leader was appointed to head the northern Gaza branch.
It added that the Israeli response to the rocket fire will likely be limited, and that Israel will blame Hamas for it.
None of the armed groups in Gaza have claimed responsibility for the alleged rocket fire.
The Interior Ministry in Gaza decided to vacate its headquarters due to a possible Israeli military escalation.
Nafeth Azzam, a prominent political leader of the Islamic Jihad, denied the Israeli allegations, and said the movement has nothing to do with the reported incident.
Also read Oxfam report April 2015, more than 400 Israeli violations [PDF]
19 may 2015
In an interview with the Gaza-based Alresalah Newspaper, the Jewish professor Norman G. Finkelstein said that "Hamas has generally put forth reasonable goals, but it relies exclusively on armed struggle."
He declared his total support to mass nonviolent resistance, such as organizing a huge demonstration, coordinated with the international solidarity movement, to pass through the Erez checkpoint.
Norman G. Finkelstein received his doctorate in 1988 from the Department of Politics at Princeton University. He currently teaches at Sakarya University’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies in Turkey. Finkelstein is the author of ten books that have been translated into 50 foreign editions.
The Palestinians must, according to him, take advantage of their biggest external asset: the huge reservoir of support they have around the world.
Speaking about the improvement in Hamas-Europe relations, Finkelstein said that it is a difficult process, because of the hostility toward, and fear of, Islam in Europe. However, as he said, if Hamas articulates reasonable goals, and engages in mass nonviolent civil resistance, and if it coordinates its efforts with the international solidarity movement, it could perhaps win over a lot of European public opinion to the Palestinian cause.
Regarding the peace process resumption, he stated that "there has never been a peace process. There is an annexation process that uses the “peace process” as camouflage."
The current phase of the “peace process” began with the Oslo agreement in 1993. At the time, there were 250,000 illegal Jewish settlers in the occupied Palestinian territories. Two decades later, there are more than 550,000 settlers.
That captures the essence of the “peace process”—its purpose was to facilitate Israel’s absorption of the West Bank, he continued.
Professor Finkelstein strongly criticized both Egypt and Saudi Arabia's support to Israel during Gaza aggression.
The Arab League met only once, and effectively supported the pro-Israel ceasefire proposal put forth by al-Sisi, he pointed out.
"At the popular level—whether it be Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Egypt, Bahrain—the various Arab peoples are now preoccupied with their own domestic catastrophes. The Palestine cause no longer commands the moral authority it once enjoyed."
According to Finkelstein, the US hopes to use Egypt, Jordan, and the PA to squeeze the Palestinian people in submission, while al-Sisi is more interested in an alliance with Israel.
Speaking about PA role, he said that the PA is any longer committed at this point to ending the occupation. On 13 September 1993, the Palestinian Authority, he continued, ceased to be a resistance movement and became an agent of the occupation.
"The PA recruited a mercenary army by offering poor Palestinians in refugee camps a relatively privileged life of a job and a car if they agreed to arrest and torture other Palestinians for Israel."
The international community sucked all the talent out of the Palestinian community by creating NGOs in Ramallah that produce worthless reports during the day on the Palestinian economy (Palestine does not have an economy; it survives on charity), and enjoy Ramallah’s restaurants and entertainment at night, he concluded.
He declared his total support to mass nonviolent resistance, such as organizing a huge demonstration, coordinated with the international solidarity movement, to pass through the Erez checkpoint.
Norman G. Finkelstein received his doctorate in 1988 from the Department of Politics at Princeton University. He currently teaches at Sakarya University’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies in Turkey. Finkelstein is the author of ten books that have been translated into 50 foreign editions.
The Palestinians must, according to him, take advantage of their biggest external asset: the huge reservoir of support they have around the world.
Speaking about the improvement in Hamas-Europe relations, Finkelstein said that it is a difficult process, because of the hostility toward, and fear of, Islam in Europe. However, as he said, if Hamas articulates reasonable goals, and engages in mass nonviolent civil resistance, and if it coordinates its efforts with the international solidarity movement, it could perhaps win over a lot of European public opinion to the Palestinian cause.
Regarding the peace process resumption, he stated that "there has never been a peace process. There is an annexation process that uses the “peace process” as camouflage."
The current phase of the “peace process” began with the Oslo agreement in 1993. At the time, there were 250,000 illegal Jewish settlers in the occupied Palestinian territories. Two decades later, there are more than 550,000 settlers.
That captures the essence of the “peace process”—its purpose was to facilitate Israel’s absorption of the West Bank, he continued.
Professor Finkelstein strongly criticized both Egypt and Saudi Arabia's support to Israel during Gaza aggression.
The Arab League met only once, and effectively supported the pro-Israel ceasefire proposal put forth by al-Sisi, he pointed out.
"At the popular level—whether it be Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Egypt, Bahrain—the various Arab peoples are now preoccupied with their own domestic catastrophes. The Palestine cause no longer commands the moral authority it once enjoyed."
According to Finkelstein, the US hopes to use Egypt, Jordan, and the PA to squeeze the Palestinian people in submission, while al-Sisi is more interested in an alliance with Israel.
Speaking about PA role, he said that the PA is any longer committed at this point to ending the occupation. On 13 September 1993, the Palestinian Authority, he continued, ceased to be a resistance movement and became an agent of the occupation.
"The PA recruited a mercenary army by offering poor Palestinians in refugee camps a relatively privileged life of a job and a car if they agreed to arrest and torture other Palestinians for Israel."
The international community sucked all the talent out of the Palestinian community by creating NGOs in Ramallah that produce worthless reports during the day on the Palestinian economy (Palestine does not have an economy; it survives on charity), and enjoy Ramallah’s restaurants and entertainment at night, he concluded.
24 apr 2015
The Israeli Authorities canceled entry permits of the 200 Palestinian, from the besieged Gaza Strip, who were previously allowed to enter Jerusalem for Friday prayers in the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
General Yoav Mordechai, coordinator of the Israeli Government Activities in the occupied territories, said Israel decided to deny access to the 200 worshipers who obtained special permits to head to the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Mordechai added that the Israeli measure comes in retaliation to the shell that was fired, late on Thursday at night, from Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza, into an Israeli area across the border.
He stated that the Erez Terminal would also be closed due to what he called “escalation, and dangerous situation close to the border with Gaza.
Israeli military sources said one missile was fired from Gaza into the Merhavim Regional Council in the Negev, causing no casualties.
Following the attack, the Israeli army boarded targets run by the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas in Gaza, and fired rounds of live ammunition into the Gaza shore.
The Israeli army said, although Hamas was not responsible for firing the shell, it is to be held responsible for any escalation in the coastal region.
A senior Israeli security source said a Salafist group, not under the control of Hamas, is behind the attack, and that “should Hamas fail to maintain calm; it will end up paying the price.”
General Yoav Mordechai, coordinator of the Israeli Government Activities in the occupied territories, said Israel decided to deny access to the 200 worshipers who obtained special permits to head to the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Mordechai added that the Israeli measure comes in retaliation to the shell that was fired, late on Thursday at night, from Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza, into an Israeli area across the border.
He stated that the Erez Terminal would also be closed due to what he called “escalation, and dangerous situation close to the border with Gaza.
Israeli military sources said one missile was fired from Gaza into the Merhavim Regional Council in the Negev, causing no casualties.
Following the attack, the Israeli army boarded targets run by the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas in Gaza, and fired rounds of live ammunition into the Gaza shore.
The Israeli army said, although Hamas was not responsible for firing the shell, it is to be held responsible for any escalation in the coastal region.
A senior Israeli security source said a Salafist group, not under the control of Hamas, is behind the attack, and that “should Hamas fail to maintain calm; it will end up paying the price.”
23 apr 2015
For the first time in 2015, red alert siren sounds in south; residents of Gaza border communities report no explosion was heard.
A code red siren was sounded in Sderot and other Gaza border communities in southern Israel on Thursday evening as the country celebrated Israel's 67th Independence Day.
The last time the air raid siren blared in southern communities was on December 26, 2014.
A code red siren was sounded in Sderot and other Gaza border communities in southern Israel on Thursday evening as the country celebrated Israel's 67th Independence Day.
The last time the air raid siren blared in southern communities was on December 26, 2014.
6 apr 2015
Member of Hamas's political bureau Ziyad al-Zaza said that his Movement talks with the Israeli occupation only through its resistance weapon and its truce with it was never real.
During a political symposium held on Sunday by the information office of Hamas in Gaza, Zaza scoffed at what Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas recently claimed that Hamas wanted to establish a state in the Sinai or with temporary borders, describing his remarks in this regards as a form of "psychological projection."
In another context, the Hamas official talked about the Swish document of proposals to solve the problem of unpaid civil servants in Gaza, affirming that his Movement agreed on the general principles and main points of the document.
He said that the most prominent points of the document which the Movement had been opposed to were about the early retirement and the security screening of the civil servants, affirming that the employees' right to job security cannot be conceded.
The official noted that his Movement is awaiting a response from the unity government on the Swiss document.
During a political symposium held on Sunday by the information office of Hamas in Gaza, Zaza scoffed at what Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas recently claimed that Hamas wanted to establish a state in the Sinai or with temporary borders, describing his remarks in this regards as a form of "psychological projection."
In another context, the Hamas official talked about the Swish document of proposals to solve the problem of unpaid civil servants in Gaza, affirming that his Movement agreed on the general principles and main points of the document.
He said that the most prominent points of the document which the Movement had been opposed to were about the early retirement and the security screening of the civil servants, affirming that the employees' right to job security cannot be conceded.
The official noted that his Movement is awaiting a response from the unity government on the Swiss document.
1 apr 2015
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) fired on Tuesday evening artillery shells at Palestinian homes near Kissufim military site east of the Qarara town north-east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip.
No casualties were reported during the attack, local sources said.
Israeli media sources claimed that the Israeli attack came few hours after Palestinian gunmen shot at Israeli troops stationed on the eastern border of the Gaza Strip.
Armed Gazans have allegedly fired several rounds at the Israeli troops deployed to the north of Kissufim military site to the south of the besiege Strip, the sources added.
The alleged attack resulted in no injuries, according to the sources.
Earlier Tuesday, Israeli forces opened their machinegun fire at Palestinian farmers near the border fence.
No casualties were reported during the attack, local sources said.
Israeli media sources claimed that the Israeli attack came few hours after Palestinian gunmen shot at Israeli troops stationed on the eastern border of the Gaza Strip.
Armed Gazans have allegedly fired several rounds at the Israeli troops deployed to the north of Kissufim military site to the south of the besiege Strip, the sources added.
The alleged attack resulted in no injuries, according to the sources.
Earlier Tuesday, Israeli forces opened their machinegun fire at Palestinian farmers near the border fence.
28 mar 2015
Hamas Movement revealed on Friday that certain parties asked the group not to send reconnaissance aircrafts over 1948 occupied territories.
MP Mushir Masri stated during a Hamas rally in Gaza on Friday night that “unnamed parties” have asked his Movement not to send reconnaissance aircrafts over 1948 occupied territories.
He pointed out that the current ceasefire between Palestinian resistance factions and Israeli occupation is used to prepare a stronger generation to confront the next Israeli aggression.
He stressed his Movement’s strong adherence to its principles and Palestinian national constants. Hamas will never go down despite all the conspiracies and challenges, Masri continued.
During the summer aggression on Gaza, the armed wing of Hamas Movement al-Qassem Brigades’ reconnaissance aircrafts have flown three missions over 1948 occupied territories.
MP Mushir Masri stated during a Hamas rally in Gaza on Friday night that “unnamed parties” have asked his Movement not to send reconnaissance aircrafts over 1948 occupied territories.
He pointed out that the current ceasefire between Palestinian resistance factions and Israeli occupation is used to prepare a stronger generation to confront the next Israeli aggression.
He stressed his Movement’s strong adherence to its principles and Palestinian national constants. Hamas will never go down despite all the conspiracies and challenges, Masri continued.
During the summer aggression on Gaza, the armed wing of Hamas Movement al-Qassem Brigades’ reconnaissance aircrafts have flown three missions over 1948 occupied territories.
Hamas Movement welcomed on Friday an Egyptian decision to remove the group from terror list, considering it a correction of an earlier mistake.
An Egyptian lawyer has earlier withdrawn his lawsuit against Hamas declaring the group ‘terrorist group’.
He declared that he would drop the suit so that the verdict would not be "an obstacle to Egypt’s reconciliation efforts between Palestinian factions.”
The lawyer’s case withdrawal will automatically cancel the verdict, so that the Egyptian government's appeal against it would be "unacceptable".
The decision is a positive step towards repairing relations between Egypt and Palestinians living in Gaza,” spokesman for the Movement Salah Al-Bardawil said.
“We hope to see a reversal of the al-Qassam Brigades ruling, and the permanent opening of the Rafah crossing to support the Palestinian people's steadfastness in face of the Israeli occupation,” he added.
The Cairo Court for Urgent Matters on 28 February designated Hamas as a terrorist organization. The ruling was considered by Hamas as a political decision before being appealed by the Egyptian government on March 11. The Cairo Appeal Court for Urgent Matters was supposed to decide on the matter on Saturday.
An Egyptian lawyer has earlier withdrawn his lawsuit against Hamas declaring the group ‘terrorist group’.
He declared that he would drop the suit so that the verdict would not be "an obstacle to Egypt’s reconciliation efforts between Palestinian factions.”
The lawyer’s case withdrawal will automatically cancel the verdict, so that the Egyptian government's appeal against it would be "unacceptable".
The decision is a positive step towards repairing relations between Egypt and Palestinians living in Gaza,” spokesman for the Movement Salah Al-Bardawil said.
“We hope to see a reversal of the al-Qassam Brigades ruling, and the permanent opening of the Rafah crossing to support the Palestinian people's steadfastness in face of the Israeli occupation,” he added.
The Cairo Court for Urgent Matters on 28 February designated Hamas as a terrorist organization. The ruling was considered by Hamas as a political decision before being appealed by the Egyptian government on March 11. The Cairo Appeal Court for Urgent Matters was supposed to decide on the matter on Saturday.
27 mar 2015
Hamas leaders Khaled Meshal and Ismail Haniyeh meeting in Gaza.
Gaza group will remain on EU blacklist during council's appeal process, as Hamas calls decision 'unjust and wrong'.
The European Union kept Hamas on its terrorism blacklist Friday despite a controversial court decision ordering Brussels to remove the Palestinian Islamist group from the register.
Brussels has lodged an appeal against a December ruling by the bloc's second highest court that Hamas should be delisted for the first time since 2001.
"Hamas stays on list during Council's appeal to December judgement," Susanne Kiefer, a spokeswoman for the European Council said on Twitter.
The appeal process is expected to take around a year and a half.
Two other groups have however been withdrawn since the last EU list was published in July 2014: the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, which US officials have accused of funnelling money to Hamas, and Al-Takfir and Al-Hijra, an Egyptian Islamist group.
An EU official said the relevant member states that originally put the groups on the list had "changed their minds", adding that Italy had requested the listing of the Holy Land Foundation and Britain had sought the inclusion of Al-Takfir and Al-Hijra.
Hamas's military wing was added to the EU's first-ever terrorism blacklist drawn up in December 2001 in the wake of the September 11 attacks on the United States. The EU then blacklisted the political wing of Hamas in 2003.
But the General Court of the European Union ruled last year that the Hamas blacklisting was based not on sound legal judgements but on conclusions derived from the media and the Internet.
The row over the listing of Hamas, which has been in power in the Palestinian territory of Gaza since 2007, has threatened to undermine recent moves by Brussels to play a bigger role in reviving the moribund Middle East peace process.
Hamas has said the EU's appeal against the judgement by the General Court of the European Union is "immoral". Hamas' funds in Europe have remained frozen since the December decision.
Israel meanwhile hit out at the original decision to remove Hamas.
The EU list still includes organisations such as Lebanon's Hezbollah militia, Kurdish rebel group Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), Colombia's FARC and Peru's Shining Path.
Gaza group will remain on EU blacklist during council's appeal process, as Hamas calls decision 'unjust and wrong'.
The European Union kept Hamas on its terrorism blacklist Friday despite a controversial court decision ordering Brussels to remove the Palestinian Islamist group from the register.
Brussels has lodged an appeal against a December ruling by the bloc's second highest court that Hamas should be delisted for the first time since 2001.
"Hamas stays on list during Council's appeal to December judgement," Susanne Kiefer, a spokeswoman for the European Council said on Twitter.
The appeal process is expected to take around a year and a half.
Two other groups have however been withdrawn since the last EU list was published in July 2014: the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, which US officials have accused of funnelling money to Hamas, and Al-Takfir and Al-Hijra, an Egyptian Islamist group.
An EU official said the relevant member states that originally put the groups on the list had "changed their minds", adding that Italy had requested the listing of the Holy Land Foundation and Britain had sought the inclusion of Al-Takfir and Al-Hijra.
Hamas's military wing was added to the EU's first-ever terrorism blacklist drawn up in December 2001 in the wake of the September 11 attacks on the United States. The EU then blacklisted the political wing of Hamas in 2003.
But the General Court of the European Union ruled last year that the Hamas blacklisting was based not on sound legal judgements but on conclusions derived from the media and the Internet.
The row over the listing of Hamas, which has been in power in the Palestinian territory of Gaza since 2007, has threatened to undermine recent moves by Brussels to play a bigger role in reviving the moribund Middle East peace process.
Hamas has said the EU's appeal against the judgement by the General Court of the European Union is "immoral". Hamas' funds in Europe have remained frozen since the December decision.
Israel meanwhile hit out at the original decision to remove Hamas.
The EU list still includes organisations such as Lebanon's Hezbollah militia, Kurdish rebel group Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), Colombia's FARC and Peru's Shining Path.
17 mar 2015
By Muslim Imran
On March 2, the Cairo Court for Urgent Matters made a ruling that Hamas was a terrorist organization. This decision came after a similar ruling by the same court labeling Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, a terrorist organization. This decision and other post-coup Egyptian policies towards Hamas pose an important question: Is Hamas really a terrorist organization?
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) was founded in the late 1980s by a group of Palestinian activists. The Movement emerged in conjunction with the outbreak of the First Palestinian Intifada in 1987. The Intifada started on December 8, 1987 and Hamas released its first Press Statement on December 14, 1987.
The establishment of Hamas came at a time when the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was starting to lean towards diplomatic means of resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict. However, the establishment of Hamas ran parallel with the will of the Palestinian people to maintain armed struggle as one of their effective resistance strategies. Hamas made it clear, from day one, that armed struggle was a right for occupied people guaranteed by all relevant international laws and norms. The Movement continuously reiterated that it will continue to pursue this strategy along with other resistance means in order to liberate Palestine.
Although Hamas was very affirmative in pursuing armed struggle, the Movement was not the first to resort to such a strategy neither was it the lone Palestinian faction to adopt it. Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) founded in 1959 was among the first to resort to armed struggle in the Palestinian arena. Fatah was joined by other nationalist, leftist and Islamist movements in adopting armed struggle against Israeli occupation. This was also the strategy adopted by earlier Palestinian and Arab groups in countering the Israeli occupation of Palestine in 1948.
In spite of the fact that most Palestinian factions adopted the same strategies, the Egyptian court listed only Hamas as a terrorist organization.
Interestingly, Egypt itself used, among others, armed struggle in its successive revolutions against the British colonization in the first half of the twentieth century. Was this Egyptian resistance terrorist as well? And is the current Egyptian government planning to disown its national history and rewrite school syllabuses to suit its current definition of terrorism?
One of the main pretexts used by the current Egyptian government in its aggressive policies towards Hamas and the Gaza Strip in general is that Hamas was, reportedly, involved in the internal Egyptian affairs. This claim is usually based on the assumption that since Hamas adheres to the Muslim Brotherhood ideology then it must be interfering in domestic Egyptian affairs in favor of the Muslim Brotherhood. Let’s ignore here the fact that the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood was the democratically elected government of Egypt before the army generals brought down its rule, and let’s not highlight the moderate nature of the MB’s ideology. The main refutation of the Egyptian government claims is that there has been no single proof of a Palestinian or a Hamas involvement in any domestic Egyptian affair.
Hamas has repeatedly announced its willingness to cooperate with any Egyptian security agency or commission to investigate the Egyptian claims but was never allowed. The Movement also cited its clean record in all other countries where it has never interfered in domestic affairs. The Movement has also highlighted its policy of not targeting any Israeli target outside of the occupied Palestinian land. So how can a Movement so restrained to resisting occupation inside its land be accused of wasting its time and efforts in meddling in other countries affairs?!
Following up the internal economic, political and security situation in Egypt leads to the conclusion that the Egyptian government was in dire need of a supposedly “weak” enemy to export its failures and internal problems and blame that “enemy” for the government’s inability to maintain security and stability in the country.
In order to cover for its failures, the Egyptian government has waged a media campaign against almost all its neighboring countries. Gaza and Libya got the lion’s share of the Egyptian blame and mongering. Mainstream Egyptian media called months ago for Egyptian military attacks on Gaza and Libya. This call was answered weeks ago, when the Egyptian air-force bombarded Libyan cities in response for the brutal killing of dozens of Egyptian Copts in Libya. The timing and approach used by the Egyptian government in handling this crime pose questions on the real intents of its intervention in Libya, given that its Libyan backed Haftar military coup failed to take over the Libyan state.
In Gaza, Egypt has made the life of Gazans impossible by its almost continuous closure of the Rafah Crossing (the only Gazan way to the outside world). The Egyptian government continues to collectively punish 1.8 million Palestinians living in the Strip. Assuming that Hamas membership in Gaza could reach one million (of course this is an absolute exaggeration of the number!), why are the other 800,000 Palestinians living in the Strip being blockaded and humiliated?!
Since the year 2007, over 300 Gazan Palestinians died at the Rafah Crossing due to lack of medical treatment and supplies. As of today Egypt continues to violate relevant international laws by closing down the Rafah Crossing most of the days of the year.
Hamas was elected in 2006 in a transparent democratic election, where it gained 64% of the seats, and therefore it represents the majority of the Palestinian people (or at least those who elected it). Hence, it is a mere disrespect to the Palestinian people to list their elected representative as a terrorist organization. It is also an utter disrespect for the friends and allies of the Palestinian national movement to see their friend being listed as a terrorist organization in a fellow Arab Muslim government.
Hamas is one of the main Palestinian resistance movements that inspire the hope of the Palestinian people to see their country free and independent. What Palestinians expect from their fellow friends worldwide is to see their bold support for Hamas and other Palestinian factions. Listing Hamas as a terrorist organization is seen by most Palestinians as nothing short of backstabbing of their struggle!
Muslim Imran is the director of the Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia
On March 2, the Cairo Court for Urgent Matters made a ruling that Hamas was a terrorist organization. This decision came after a similar ruling by the same court labeling Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, a terrorist organization. This decision and other post-coup Egyptian policies towards Hamas pose an important question: Is Hamas really a terrorist organization?
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) was founded in the late 1980s by a group of Palestinian activists. The Movement emerged in conjunction with the outbreak of the First Palestinian Intifada in 1987. The Intifada started on December 8, 1987 and Hamas released its first Press Statement on December 14, 1987.
The establishment of Hamas came at a time when the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was starting to lean towards diplomatic means of resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict. However, the establishment of Hamas ran parallel with the will of the Palestinian people to maintain armed struggle as one of their effective resistance strategies. Hamas made it clear, from day one, that armed struggle was a right for occupied people guaranteed by all relevant international laws and norms. The Movement continuously reiterated that it will continue to pursue this strategy along with other resistance means in order to liberate Palestine.
Although Hamas was very affirmative in pursuing armed struggle, the Movement was not the first to resort to such a strategy neither was it the lone Palestinian faction to adopt it. Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) founded in 1959 was among the first to resort to armed struggle in the Palestinian arena. Fatah was joined by other nationalist, leftist and Islamist movements in adopting armed struggle against Israeli occupation. This was also the strategy adopted by earlier Palestinian and Arab groups in countering the Israeli occupation of Palestine in 1948.
In spite of the fact that most Palestinian factions adopted the same strategies, the Egyptian court listed only Hamas as a terrorist organization.
Interestingly, Egypt itself used, among others, armed struggle in its successive revolutions against the British colonization in the first half of the twentieth century. Was this Egyptian resistance terrorist as well? And is the current Egyptian government planning to disown its national history and rewrite school syllabuses to suit its current definition of terrorism?
One of the main pretexts used by the current Egyptian government in its aggressive policies towards Hamas and the Gaza Strip in general is that Hamas was, reportedly, involved in the internal Egyptian affairs. This claim is usually based on the assumption that since Hamas adheres to the Muslim Brotherhood ideology then it must be interfering in domestic Egyptian affairs in favor of the Muslim Brotherhood. Let’s ignore here the fact that the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood was the democratically elected government of Egypt before the army generals brought down its rule, and let’s not highlight the moderate nature of the MB’s ideology. The main refutation of the Egyptian government claims is that there has been no single proof of a Palestinian or a Hamas involvement in any domestic Egyptian affair.
Hamas has repeatedly announced its willingness to cooperate with any Egyptian security agency or commission to investigate the Egyptian claims but was never allowed. The Movement also cited its clean record in all other countries where it has never interfered in domestic affairs. The Movement has also highlighted its policy of not targeting any Israeli target outside of the occupied Palestinian land. So how can a Movement so restrained to resisting occupation inside its land be accused of wasting its time and efforts in meddling in other countries affairs?!
Following up the internal economic, political and security situation in Egypt leads to the conclusion that the Egyptian government was in dire need of a supposedly “weak” enemy to export its failures and internal problems and blame that “enemy” for the government’s inability to maintain security and stability in the country.
In order to cover for its failures, the Egyptian government has waged a media campaign against almost all its neighboring countries. Gaza and Libya got the lion’s share of the Egyptian blame and mongering. Mainstream Egyptian media called months ago for Egyptian military attacks on Gaza and Libya. This call was answered weeks ago, when the Egyptian air-force bombarded Libyan cities in response for the brutal killing of dozens of Egyptian Copts in Libya. The timing and approach used by the Egyptian government in handling this crime pose questions on the real intents of its intervention in Libya, given that its Libyan backed Haftar military coup failed to take over the Libyan state.
In Gaza, Egypt has made the life of Gazans impossible by its almost continuous closure of the Rafah Crossing (the only Gazan way to the outside world). The Egyptian government continues to collectively punish 1.8 million Palestinians living in the Strip. Assuming that Hamas membership in Gaza could reach one million (of course this is an absolute exaggeration of the number!), why are the other 800,000 Palestinians living in the Strip being blockaded and humiliated?!
Since the year 2007, over 300 Gazan Palestinians died at the Rafah Crossing due to lack of medical treatment and supplies. As of today Egypt continues to violate relevant international laws by closing down the Rafah Crossing most of the days of the year.
Hamas was elected in 2006 in a transparent democratic election, where it gained 64% of the seats, and therefore it represents the majority of the Palestinian people (or at least those who elected it). Hence, it is a mere disrespect to the Palestinian people to list their elected representative as a terrorist organization. It is also an utter disrespect for the friends and allies of the Palestinian national movement to see their friend being listed as a terrorist organization in a fellow Arab Muslim government.
Hamas is one of the main Palestinian resistance movements that inspire the hope of the Palestinian people to see their country free and independent. What Palestinians expect from their fellow friends worldwide is to see their bold support for Hamas and other Palestinian factions. Listing Hamas as a terrorist organization is seen by most Palestinians as nothing short of backstabbing of their struggle!
Muslim Imran is the director of the Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia
9 mar 2015
Senior leader in Hamas Movement Bassem Naim denied Monday Israeli claims saying that his group has offered a long-term ceasefire lasting for several years.
Speaking to the PIC, Naim stated that the document published by Walla Hebrew website that Hamas has allegedly offered a multi-years calm via western diplomats, is fabricated.
Hamas has only discussed with Swiss Consul Paul Garnier the issue of Gaza staff integration, Naim pointed out.
For his part, the group’s spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri strongly denied Israeli allegations about Hamas’s offer for a long-term ceasefire with the occupation.
“Some international parties have earlier presented to us the offer document; however, we didn’t give our reply yet. The issue should be adequately addressed through national consensus.”
Israeli media sources claimed that Hamas Movement had sent a series of messages via Western diplomats to Israel indicating interest in a long-term ceasefire lasting for five years, in exchange for an end to the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip, the opening of all border crossings, and the establishment of Gaza port and airport.
The western diplomats included Swiss Consul Paul Garnier and UN envoy Robert Serry, according to the Israeli allegations.
The sources pointed out that Israel is studying the alleged offer as no agreement would happen before the elections on March 17.
Speaking to the PIC, Naim stated that the document published by Walla Hebrew website that Hamas has allegedly offered a multi-years calm via western diplomats, is fabricated.
Hamas has only discussed with Swiss Consul Paul Garnier the issue of Gaza staff integration, Naim pointed out.
For his part, the group’s spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri strongly denied Israeli allegations about Hamas’s offer for a long-term ceasefire with the occupation.
“Some international parties have earlier presented to us the offer document; however, we didn’t give our reply yet. The issue should be adequately addressed through national consensus.”
Israeli media sources claimed that Hamas Movement had sent a series of messages via Western diplomats to Israel indicating interest in a long-term ceasefire lasting for five years, in exchange for an end to the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip, the opening of all border crossings, and the establishment of Gaza port and airport.
The western diplomats included Swiss Consul Paul Garnier and UN envoy Robert Serry, according to the Israeli allegations.
The sources pointed out that Israel is studying the alleged offer as no agreement would happen before the elections on March 17.
Walla Israeli website said, Monday, that Hamas has recently sent a series of letters to Israeli occupation authorities, offering a long-term ceasefire which would last for at least 5 years, in exchange for ending the siege on Gaza.
According to the PNN, the letters also pointed to research about the ceasefire in regard to western diplomats, whereby the two would compromise on the nature of the cease.
Israeli authorities have not yet replied to the offer. however, Hamas predicts it will take place after the Israeli elections on March 17.
According to the PNN, the letters also pointed to research about the ceasefire in regard to western diplomats, whereby the two would compromise on the nature of the cease.
Israeli authorities have not yet replied to the offer. however, Hamas predicts it will take place after the Israeli elections on March 17.
8 mar 2015
Senior Palestinian trade unionist Sami al-Ammasi has called on Palestinian resistance factions to reconsider the calm agreement with Israel in light of its continued breaches.
Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions along with General Union of Fishermen mourned the Palestinian fisherman, Tawfiq Abu Riyalah, who died Saturday noon due to injuries he sustained since the early morning hours at the hands of Israeli navy forces when they opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in Gaza sea.
The head of the General Federation Sami al-Ammasi condemned, in a statement on Sunday, arresting two fishermen who accompanied Abu Riyalah and confiscating their boat.
Ammasi called on the Palestinian factions to seriously reassess the calm agreement with Israel in light of the daily threats to lives of Palestinian fishermen off the Gaza coast. He pointed out that the IOF arrested 42 fishermen and destroyed 21 boats since the end of last summer’s Israeli aggression on Gaza.
He also condemned firing at the Gazan fishing boats off the coasts of Nusairat, Sudaniyah, and Khan Younis. “The IOF daily targets fishermen in order to send a message that Gaza sea is not safe and fishing off its coast is very risky”, he said.
Ammasi called on human rights organizations to expose the Israeli aggressive practices against Palestinian fishermen in Gaza.
Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions along with General Union of Fishermen mourned the Palestinian fisherman, Tawfiq Abu Riyalah, who died Saturday noon due to injuries he sustained since the early morning hours at the hands of Israeli navy forces when they opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in Gaza sea.
The head of the General Federation Sami al-Ammasi condemned, in a statement on Sunday, arresting two fishermen who accompanied Abu Riyalah and confiscating their boat.
Ammasi called on the Palestinian factions to seriously reassess the calm agreement with Israel in light of the daily threats to lives of Palestinian fishermen off the Gaza coast. He pointed out that the IOF arrested 42 fishermen and destroyed 21 boats since the end of last summer’s Israeli aggression on Gaza.
He also condemned firing at the Gazan fishing boats off the coasts of Nusairat, Sudaniyah, and Khan Younis. “The IOF daily targets fishermen in order to send a message that Gaza sea is not safe and fishing off its coast is very risky”, he said.
Ammasi called on human rights organizations to expose the Israeli aggressive practices against Palestinian fishermen in Gaza.