5 may 2016
Aisha al-Amouri 55
A Palestinian elderly woman was killed and two young men were injured in Israeli artillery shelling east of Khan Younis city south of Gaza Strip, while Israeli warplanes continued to launch airstrikes on the southern border areas.
The PIC reporter quoted medical sources as saying that the 55-year-old Aisha al-Amouri succumbed to her wounds she sustained during Israeli violent artillery shelling on the al-Fakhari area east of Khan Younis city.
Al-Amouri was transferred to the European Hospital in Gaza in very critical condition, where she was proclaimed dead. Two other young men suffered moderate injuries during the shelling.
Tensions continued to escalate in the besieged Gaza Strip since Wednesday afternoon after Israeli forces carried out several airstrikes and incursions in total violation of the ceasefire agreement reached in August 2014.
A Palestinian elderly woman was killed and two young men were injured in Israeli artillery shelling east of Khan Younis city south of Gaza Strip, while Israeli warplanes continued to launch airstrikes on the southern border areas.
The PIC reporter quoted medical sources as saying that the 55-year-old Aisha al-Amouri succumbed to her wounds she sustained during Israeli violent artillery shelling on the al-Fakhari area east of Khan Younis city.
Al-Amouri was transferred to the European Hospital in Gaza in very critical condition, where she was proclaimed dead. Two other young men suffered moderate injuries during the shelling.
Tensions continued to escalate in the besieged Gaza Strip since Wednesday afternoon after Israeli forces carried out several airstrikes and incursions in total violation of the ceasefire agreement reached in August 2014.
Israeli warplanes launched Thursday evening four airstrikes on Rafah south of Gaza Strip, only few hours after Israeli military vehicles launched a fresh incursion into Gaza’s northern border areas.
According to the PIC reporter, Israeli F-16 jets targeted security sites used by Palestinian resistance west of Rafah.
A young man was injured earlier in the day when Israeli tanks, stationed along the border areas, shelled Khan Younis city south of the Strip.
The PIC reporter also affirmed that Israeli F-16 jets launched two airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip, hitting an open land in the Abu al-Rus area in eastern Rafah. No injuries were initially reported.
Following the Israeli new escalation, Palestinian resistance responded by firing mortar shells at the Israeli military vehicles that crossed into Gaza territories since the early morning hours.
Israeli forces also shelled an observation post used by Saraya al-Quds Brigades, Jihad Movement’s armed wing, with no reported injuries. The IOF admitted that one of its military vehicles was targeted by five mortar shells, causing only material damage.
Along the same line, eight Israeli military vehicles including three bulldozers moved about 60 meters into Beit Hanoun town north of Gaza Strip, and carried out combing operations in the area.
Four Palestinians, including three children, were earlier injured when Israeli forces launched several airstrikes across the besieged strip of Gaza.
Tensions continued to escalate in the besieged Gaza Strip since Wednesday afternoon after Israeli forces launched several airstrikes and incursions in total violation of the ceasefire agreement reached in August 2014.
According to the PIC reporter, Israeli F-16 jets targeted security sites used by Palestinian resistance west of Rafah.
A young man was injured earlier in the day when Israeli tanks, stationed along the border areas, shelled Khan Younis city south of the Strip.
The PIC reporter also affirmed that Israeli F-16 jets launched two airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip, hitting an open land in the Abu al-Rus area in eastern Rafah. No injuries were initially reported.
Following the Israeli new escalation, Palestinian resistance responded by firing mortar shells at the Israeli military vehicles that crossed into Gaza territories since the early morning hours.
Israeli forces also shelled an observation post used by Saraya al-Quds Brigades, Jihad Movement’s armed wing, with no reported injuries. The IOF admitted that one of its military vehicles was targeted by five mortar shells, causing only material damage.
Along the same line, eight Israeli military vehicles including three bulldozers moved about 60 meters into Beit Hanoun town north of Gaza Strip, and carried out combing operations in the area.
Four Palestinians, including three children, were earlier injured when Israeli forces launched several airstrikes across the besieged strip of Gaza.
Tensions continued to escalate in the besieged Gaza Strip since Wednesday afternoon after Israeli forces launched several airstrikes and incursions in total violation of the ceasefire agreement reached in August 2014.
The Islamic Jihad Movement has warned that the Palestinian resistance will not stand idly by watching Israel's escalation of its aggression against the Gaza Strip.
"The resistance is closely and carefully monitoring the development of events", spokesman for the Movement Dawoud Shihab stated on Wednesday.
Shihab, however, stressed that "the resistance is committed to defending and protecting the Palestinian people." "The resistance in Gaza will not allow the occupation to impose a new fait accompli through attacking the Strip, and the Palestinian people will not allow it to impose the policy of coexistence on Gaza," the spokesman said.
"The resistance is in a constant state of preparation for response to the occupation's crimes," he added. He pointed out that "Israel has tightened its blockade on Gaza and stopped the wheel of reconstruction that was moving very slowly because of its measures, while its persistent attacks have reached a serious level of escalation in Gaza, Jerusalem and the West Bank."
Since last Tuesday, tension has been mounting across the border fence, including an exchange of shells east of Gaza city and around Israel's Nahal Oz military base as well as in areas east of Rafah. The tension started after the Israeli army carried out several incursions into Gaza at the pretext of looking for tunnels.
"The resistance is closely and carefully monitoring the development of events", spokesman for the Movement Dawoud Shihab stated on Wednesday.
Shihab, however, stressed that "the resistance is committed to defending and protecting the Palestinian people." "The resistance in Gaza will not allow the occupation to impose a new fait accompli through attacking the Strip, and the Palestinian people will not allow it to impose the policy of coexistence on Gaza," the spokesman said.
"The resistance is in a constant state of preparation for response to the occupation's crimes," he added. He pointed out that "Israel has tightened its blockade on Gaza and stopped the wheel of reconstruction that was moving very slowly because of its measures, while its persistent attacks have reached a serious level of escalation in Gaza, Jerusalem and the West Bank."
Since last Tuesday, tension has been mounting across the border fence, including an exchange of shells east of Gaza city and around Israel's Nahal Oz military base as well as in areas east of Rafah. The tension started after the Israeli army carried out several incursions into Gaza at the pretext of looking for tunnels.
A Palestinian elderly man was injured at dawn Thursday as Israeli warplanes targeted a metal workshop in the Zeitoun neighborhood east of Gaza City.
Medical sources told the PIC reporter that Haj Hassan Hassanin, 65, was injured by shrapnel in his shoulder and arm during the airstrike.
The Israeli pre-dawn airstrikes came as part of the Israeli recent escalation on the eastern borders of Gaza and shortly after an Egyptian mediation to restore calm in the area.
Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli tanks, stationed along the Gaza border, shelled several areas in Gaza’s eastern Shuja'iyya district, targeting security posts and watchtowers used by Hamas’s armed wing.
Israeli warplanes bombed at least five positions around Gaza's derelict international airport near the southern city of Rafah and in nearby open areas on Wednesday evening. Following the Israeli attack, member of Hamas’s political bureau Mousa Abu Marzouk declared in his Facebook official page that Egyptian authorities intervened to restore calm on the border areas.
"We made contacts with our brothers in Egypt, a key mediator in Israeli 2014 aggression on Gaza, to intervene to stop the Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement", he said, hailing the Egyptian “urgent and serious intervention.”
For its part, al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas Movement, issued a statement following the Israeli incursion into Gaza’s eastern borders. “We will not allow a continuation of Zionist aggression against the Gaza Strip.
The enemy should not invoke any reason whatsoever for its actions and leave the Gaza Strip immediately,” the statement said. Hamas Movement also held the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the escalation east of Gaza Strip and its consequences.
“The Movement calls on the concerned parties to shoulder their responsibility to stop this aggression and the Israeli crimes,” the statement added. The Israeli crimes will not succeed in breaking the Palestinian will and determination, the Movement emphasized.
Medical sources told the PIC reporter that Haj Hassan Hassanin, 65, was injured by shrapnel in his shoulder and arm during the airstrike.
The Israeli pre-dawn airstrikes came as part of the Israeli recent escalation on the eastern borders of Gaza and shortly after an Egyptian mediation to restore calm in the area.
Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli tanks, stationed along the Gaza border, shelled several areas in Gaza’s eastern Shuja'iyya district, targeting security posts and watchtowers used by Hamas’s armed wing.
Israeli warplanes bombed at least five positions around Gaza's derelict international airport near the southern city of Rafah and in nearby open areas on Wednesday evening. Following the Israeli attack, member of Hamas’s political bureau Mousa Abu Marzouk declared in his Facebook official page that Egyptian authorities intervened to restore calm on the border areas.
"We made contacts with our brothers in Egypt, a key mediator in Israeli 2014 aggression on Gaza, to intervene to stop the Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement", he said, hailing the Egyptian “urgent and serious intervention.”
For its part, al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas Movement, issued a statement following the Israeli incursion into Gaza’s eastern borders. “We will not allow a continuation of Zionist aggression against the Gaza Strip.
The enemy should not invoke any reason whatsoever for its actions and leave the Gaza Strip immediately,” the statement said. Hamas Movement also held the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the escalation east of Gaza Strip and its consequences.
“The Movement calls on the concerned parties to shoulder their responsibility to stop this aggression and the Israeli crimes,” the statement added. The Israeli crimes will not succeed in breaking the Palestinian will and determination, the Movement emphasized.
Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, has warned the Israeli occupation army that it would not allow it to persist in its current military incursions inside the Gaza Strip.
"The enemy should not give pretexts of any kind [to justify its actions], and should leave the Gaza Strip immediately," the Brigades stated in a communique on Wednesday.
"The enemy should address its fears outside our borders," it added "The Israeli incursions since Tuesday morning are considered a clear violation of the 2014 truce agreement and a new act of aggression against the Gaza Strip," its communique emphasized.
On Wednesday morning, the Israeli army carried out aerial and artillery attacks on Palestinian targets inside Gaza border areas and clashed with the resistance, which responded by firing mortar shells.
One day earlier, Israeli engineering units stormed different border areas of Gaza in the east and south, and have embarked since then on destroying and carrying out diggings on cultivated plots of lands.
"The enemy should not give pretexts of any kind [to justify its actions], and should leave the Gaza Strip immediately," the Brigades stated in a communique on Wednesday.
"The enemy should address its fears outside our borders," it added "The Israeli incursions since Tuesday morning are considered a clear violation of the 2014 truce agreement and a new act of aggression against the Gaza Strip," its communique emphasized.
On Wednesday morning, the Israeli army carried out aerial and artillery attacks on Palestinian targets inside Gaza border areas and clashed with the resistance, which responded by firing mortar shells.
One day earlier, Israeli engineering units stormed different border areas of Gaza in the east and south, and have embarked since then on destroying and carrying out diggings on cultivated plots of lands.
Israeli soldiers kidnapped, on Wednesday at night, a Palestinian child from Jerusalem’s Old City. The soldiers also shot and injured a disabled Palestinian man near Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.
Eyewitnesses in occupied Jerusalem said the soldiers kidnapped a child, only 14 years of age, in the Old city, after attacking and beating her.
They added that the soldiers took the child to an interrogation center in the city, allegedly after “locating a knife in her purse.”
On Wednesday evening, the soldiers shot and injured a disabled young man, at the main entrance of Sa’ir town, east of Hebron city.
Palestinian security sources in Hebron said the soldiers shot Arif Sharif Abdul-Ghaffar Jaradat, 21, with a live round in his back. Jaradat was moved to a hospital in Hebron city, suffering a moderate injury.
It is worth mentioning that, on Wednesday at dawn, the soldiers invaded and searched a home in the at-Tour village, east of occupied Jerusalem, and kidnapped one Palestinian, identified as Ehab Abu al-Hawa, 21.
Eyewitnesses in occupied Jerusalem said the soldiers kidnapped a child, only 14 years of age, in the Old city, after attacking and beating her.
They added that the soldiers took the child to an interrogation center in the city, allegedly after “locating a knife in her purse.”
On Wednesday evening, the soldiers shot and injured a disabled young man, at the main entrance of Sa’ir town, east of Hebron city.
Palestinian security sources in Hebron said the soldiers shot Arif Sharif Abdul-Ghaffar Jaradat, 21, with a live round in his back. Jaradat was moved to a hospital in Hebron city, suffering a moderate injury.
It is worth mentioning that, on Wednesday at dawn, the soldiers invaded and searched a home in the at-Tour village, east of occupied Jerusalem, and kidnapped one Palestinian, identified as Ehab Abu al-Hawa, 21.
Various military analysts of the Israeli TV said, on Wednesday at night, that the current deterioration, and escalation, on the Gaza border is serious, but will unlikely lead to a full-blown war, and added that both Israel and Hamas are not interested in a new war.
They stated that what happened is an attempt by Hamas to prevent the Israeli army from uncovering, and destroying tunnels, in the border area.
A military analyst with Israel’s Channel 2 said the current tension could last for three days, the time period the army requires to search for tunnels.
In addition, an Israeli military spokesperson said the shelling on Gaza was conducted by unmanned drones, and targeted Hamas sites, in the southern part of the coastal region.
He added that Israel views Hamas’ underground activities (tunnels), as a breach of the ceasefire agreement, and considers Hamas a “terrorist organization, responsible for terrorist attacks.”
The spokesperson added that “Israel will continue to retaliate, with the needed force, until destroying all tunnels,” and stated that “calm, and avoiding escalation, is a joint interest for both Tel Aviv and Hamas.”
They stated that what happened is an attempt by Hamas to prevent the Israeli army from uncovering, and destroying tunnels, in the border area.
A military analyst with Israel’s Channel 2 said the current tension could last for three days, the time period the army requires to search for tunnels.
In addition, an Israeli military spokesperson said the shelling on Gaza was conducted by unmanned drones, and targeted Hamas sites, in the southern part of the coastal region.
He added that Israel views Hamas’ underground activities (tunnels), as a breach of the ceasefire agreement, and considers Hamas a “terrorist organization, responsible for terrorist attacks.”
The spokesperson added that “Israel will continue to retaliate, with the needed force, until destroying all tunnels,” and stated that “calm, and avoiding escalation, is a joint interest for both Tel Aviv and Hamas.”
Various Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Fateh movements, have warned that the latest Israeli military escalation on Gaza, including the Wednesday bombardment of border areas in the southern part of the coastal region, could lead the area into a new full-fledged military escalation and war. Yet, while calling of de-escalation, Palestinian factions in Gaza say they will retaliate to further violations.
The factions, along with many political and military analysts, said the bombarded that targeted sites run by the armed resistance groups in Gaza, is a direct Israeli initiation of war, and a large military escalation.
They added that the current attempts to inflame the Gaza front comes while Israel continues and escalates its crimes against the Palestinians in the West Bank, including the field executions, and called on the International Community, especially the Egyptian mediator, to act now before the current escalation and violations turn into a war.
The Al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas said that the Israeli army bombarded one of its centers, east of the Sheja’eyya neighborhood, in Gaza, and another site east of Rafah, in the southern part of the coastal region, shortly after the army said an explosive charge detonated near a military vehicle, operating across the border fence.
Tension was also mounting across the border fence, including exchange of shells east of Gaza city, and around the Nahal Oz Israeli military base, in addition to areas east of Rafah.
The Israeli shells targeted two military towers, run by al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas and al-Quds Brigades of the Islamic Jihad, both east of the Sheja’eyya neighborhood, causing damage but no injuries. The shelling was seen as an attempt to drag both movements into a full military confrontation.
The army also fired shells targeting a military post of the Gaza’s Field Security Force, run by the Interior Ministry, and a monitoring post run by al-Qassam, east of Rafah.
Later in the day, the army fired three shells into the Power Authority Building, east of Gaza city, causing excessive property damage.
The Al-Qassam Brigades issued a press release stating that “since Tuesday morning, May 03 2015, Israeli Engineering Corps advanced first 150-200 meters east of Rafah, and 300 meters into its northern and southern parts, and also advanced 200 meters east of Gaza city, before bulldozing and uprooting Palestinian lands – and they are still doing that.”
“We hereby want to make it clear that this is a direct violation of the ceasefire agreement of 2014; we will not allow this to continue,” Al-Qassam added, “The enemy must not make excuses and justifications, and must stop instantly – it needs to deal with its fears and insecurities somewhere else.”
The Israeli army said its fired the shells after military vehicles, operating across the border fence, east of Gaza city and in the southern part of the coastal region, were targeted with shells.
Khaled al-Batsh, a senior political leader of the Islamic Jihad in Gaza, told the Maan News Agency that the recent Israeli military escalation aims at creating “new engagement rules” that violate the Egyptian-mediated ceasefire.
The official added that the resistance in Gaza will not allow Israel to present its daily invasions into border areas as a “new normal,” especially since these invasions and violations, including the attacks against Gaza fishers, are direct and serious violates of all ceasefire agreements.
He also said that the factions in Gaza are calling on Egypt to act immediately, before this tension turns into a new war.
Fayez Abu Aita, spokesperson of Fateh movement, said the Israeli escalation against Gaza is not a coincidence, as it comes parallel to the escalation, killings, daily invasions and abductions in the occupied West Bank.
“Israel is not interested in a peaceful solution; not interested in implementing what it agreed upon in all signed peace agreements,” Abu Aita said, “Whenever international countries try to pressure Tel Aviv into halting its violations, and resuming direct talks, it instantly resorts to military escalation.”
He warned that such an escalation on Gaza will lead to the death of innocent civilians, especially children, similar to what Israel did in its aggression of 2014, and demanded the International Community to act now, and provide the urgently needed protection to the Palestinian people, mainly in the impoverished, war-torn and besieged coastal region.
Member of the Political Bureau of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), Talal Abu Thareefa, said the current situation in Gaza, the siege, poverty and constant Israeli violations, in addition to the Israeli restrictions that are seriously slowing down the reconstruction of dozens of thousands of homes and buildings, bombarded by Israel in the aggression of 2014, and the high living coats amidst seriously high levels of unemployment, will just lead to more tension.
“Several armed resistance groups in Gaza have repeatedly said they are not interested in any military escalation and direct confrontation with Israel, and we don’t believe a war will take place soon,” Abu Thareefa said, “But armed factions in Gaza are sending messages to Israel, and the International Community, that they cannot remain idle while the army continues to invade, and continues its violations and escalation.”
He also said that the armed resistance groups, and all political factions, are calling for a speedy intervention, first by Arab countries and second by regional and international countries, to act fast and lift the siege on Gaza, and to speed the reconstruction in addition to obliging Israel to stop its daily violations, including the daily targeting of fishers in Palestinian territorial waters, and the targeting of farmers and workers in Palestinian lands, close to the border fence.
“We all know that such daily violations, constant attacks and escalation will just lead to a full explosion of this already fragile situation,” Abu Thareefa added, “Israel’s threats and military escalation are very serious, and they require all of us to end these internal divisions, achieve comprehensive unity, and come up with a unified national strategy.”
On his part, Mosheer al-Masri, a senior political leader of Hamas, warned that the current Israeli escalation is “testing the patience and readiness of armed factions in Gaza,” and added that this escalation is a very serious violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Mousa Abu Marzouq, also a senior political leader of Hamas, said that what is happening in Gaza’s eastern border is an Israeli attempt to force new facts on the ground, as the army wants to prevent the Palestinians from entering their lands near, and create this new buffer zone of 150 meters.
“This is why our courageous resistance fighters targeted the military vehicles and bulldozers, earlier today,” Abu Marzouq said, “Various factions then contacted Egypt, the ceasefire mediator and facilitator, to prevent further escalation and direct confrontation.”
Palestinian Political Analyst Mustafa Sawwaf told Maan that the resistance is still practicing a great deal of self-restraint, despite the repeated invasions and violations, but added “this does not mean that they will just accept the situation as it is.”
“This self-restraint will end if the Israeli violations continue” Sawwaf said, “Israel is trying to drag the resistance into a new war to appease its public, and to show them that the army has arms that can extend, and strike deep, in Gaza.”
Deputy head of the Political Bureau of Hamas Ismael Haniyya also warned that the continuation of the siege on Gaza, and the repeated invasions and violations, will just lead to further tension and escalation.
“Do not misread our patience in Gaza, we cannot accept that two million Palestinians remain under this deadly siege, under this intolerable suffering in this big prison,” Haniyya told thousands of Palestinians during a massive Hamas rally in Gaza, Wednesday.
In the 51-day Israeli aggression and onslaught on Gaza in the summer of 2014, the Israeli army killed more than 2200 Palestinians, and wounded more than 11000, mainly civilians, including entire families, children, infants and elderly, in addition to destroying dozens of thousands of homes, buildings, and destruction of infrastructure in the Gaza region.
The factions, along with many political and military analysts, said the bombarded that targeted sites run by the armed resistance groups in Gaza, is a direct Israeli initiation of war, and a large military escalation.
They added that the current attempts to inflame the Gaza front comes while Israel continues and escalates its crimes against the Palestinians in the West Bank, including the field executions, and called on the International Community, especially the Egyptian mediator, to act now before the current escalation and violations turn into a war.
The Al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas said that the Israeli army bombarded one of its centers, east of the Sheja’eyya neighborhood, in Gaza, and another site east of Rafah, in the southern part of the coastal region, shortly after the army said an explosive charge detonated near a military vehicle, operating across the border fence.
Tension was also mounting across the border fence, including exchange of shells east of Gaza city, and around the Nahal Oz Israeli military base, in addition to areas east of Rafah.
The Israeli shells targeted two military towers, run by al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas and al-Quds Brigades of the Islamic Jihad, both east of the Sheja’eyya neighborhood, causing damage but no injuries. The shelling was seen as an attempt to drag both movements into a full military confrontation.
The army also fired shells targeting a military post of the Gaza’s Field Security Force, run by the Interior Ministry, and a monitoring post run by al-Qassam, east of Rafah.
Later in the day, the army fired three shells into the Power Authority Building, east of Gaza city, causing excessive property damage.
The Al-Qassam Brigades issued a press release stating that “since Tuesday morning, May 03 2015, Israeli Engineering Corps advanced first 150-200 meters east of Rafah, and 300 meters into its northern and southern parts, and also advanced 200 meters east of Gaza city, before bulldozing and uprooting Palestinian lands – and they are still doing that.”
“We hereby want to make it clear that this is a direct violation of the ceasefire agreement of 2014; we will not allow this to continue,” Al-Qassam added, “The enemy must not make excuses and justifications, and must stop instantly – it needs to deal with its fears and insecurities somewhere else.”
The Israeli army said its fired the shells after military vehicles, operating across the border fence, east of Gaza city and in the southern part of the coastal region, were targeted with shells.
Khaled al-Batsh, a senior political leader of the Islamic Jihad in Gaza, told the Maan News Agency that the recent Israeli military escalation aims at creating “new engagement rules” that violate the Egyptian-mediated ceasefire.
The official added that the resistance in Gaza will not allow Israel to present its daily invasions into border areas as a “new normal,” especially since these invasions and violations, including the attacks against Gaza fishers, are direct and serious violates of all ceasefire agreements.
He also said that the factions in Gaza are calling on Egypt to act immediately, before this tension turns into a new war.
Fayez Abu Aita, spokesperson of Fateh movement, said the Israeli escalation against Gaza is not a coincidence, as it comes parallel to the escalation, killings, daily invasions and abductions in the occupied West Bank.
“Israel is not interested in a peaceful solution; not interested in implementing what it agreed upon in all signed peace agreements,” Abu Aita said, “Whenever international countries try to pressure Tel Aviv into halting its violations, and resuming direct talks, it instantly resorts to military escalation.”
He warned that such an escalation on Gaza will lead to the death of innocent civilians, especially children, similar to what Israel did in its aggression of 2014, and demanded the International Community to act now, and provide the urgently needed protection to the Palestinian people, mainly in the impoverished, war-torn and besieged coastal region.
Member of the Political Bureau of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), Talal Abu Thareefa, said the current situation in Gaza, the siege, poverty and constant Israeli violations, in addition to the Israeli restrictions that are seriously slowing down the reconstruction of dozens of thousands of homes and buildings, bombarded by Israel in the aggression of 2014, and the high living coats amidst seriously high levels of unemployment, will just lead to more tension.
“Several armed resistance groups in Gaza have repeatedly said they are not interested in any military escalation and direct confrontation with Israel, and we don’t believe a war will take place soon,” Abu Thareefa said, “But armed factions in Gaza are sending messages to Israel, and the International Community, that they cannot remain idle while the army continues to invade, and continues its violations and escalation.”
He also said that the armed resistance groups, and all political factions, are calling for a speedy intervention, first by Arab countries and second by regional and international countries, to act fast and lift the siege on Gaza, and to speed the reconstruction in addition to obliging Israel to stop its daily violations, including the daily targeting of fishers in Palestinian territorial waters, and the targeting of farmers and workers in Palestinian lands, close to the border fence.
“We all know that such daily violations, constant attacks and escalation will just lead to a full explosion of this already fragile situation,” Abu Thareefa added, “Israel’s threats and military escalation are very serious, and they require all of us to end these internal divisions, achieve comprehensive unity, and come up with a unified national strategy.”
On his part, Mosheer al-Masri, a senior political leader of Hamas, warned that the current Israeli escalation is “testing the patience and readiness of armed factions in Gaza,” and added that this escalation is a very serious violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Mousa Abu Marzouq, also a senior political leader of Hamas, said that what is happening in Gaza’s eastern border is an Israeli attempt to force new facts on the ground, as the army wants to prevent the Palestinians from entering their lands near, and create this new buffer zone of 150 meters.
“This is why our courageous resistance fighters targeted the military vehicles and bulldozers, earlier today,” Abu Marzouq said, “Various factions then contacted Egypt, the ceasefire mediator and facilitator, to prevent further escalation and direct confrontation.”
Palestinian Political Analyst Mustafa Sawwaf told Maan that the resistance is still practicing a great deal of self-restraint, despite the repeated invasions and violations, but added “this does not mean that they will just accept the situation as it is.”
“This self-restraint will end if the Israeli violations continue” Sawwaf said, “Israel is trying to drag the resistance into a new war to appease its public, and to show them that the army has arms that can extend, and strike deep, in Gaza.”
Deputy head of the Political Bureau of Hamas Ismael Haniyya also warned that the continuation of the siege on Gaza, and the repeated invasions and violations, will just lead to further tension and escalation.
“Do not misread our patience in Gaza, we cannot accept that two million Palestinians remain under this deadly siege, under this intolerable suffering in this big prison,” Haniyya told thousands of Palestinians during a massive Hamas rally in Gaza, Wednesday.
In the 51-day Israeli aggression and onslaught on Gaza in the summer of 2014, the Israeli army killed more than 2200 Palestinians, and wounded more than 11000, mainly civilians, including entire families, children, infants and elderly, in addition to destroying dozens of thousands of homes, buildings, and destruction of infrastructure in the Gaza region.
