Gaza pilgrims' return through Rafah a triumph for Palestinians, says Sami Abu Zuhri

[ 03/01/2008 - 12:11 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, confirmed Wednesday that the return of Gaza pilgrims through the Rafah border crossing represents a triumph for the Palestinian will in the face of the harsh conditions of the siege and a success to Hamas's position in rejecting any alternative crossings under the control of the Israeli occupation forces.

In an exclusive statement to the PIC, Dr. Abu Zuhri expressed Hamas's appreciation of the stand of the Egyptian leadership which responded to the appeals calling for the opening of the Rafah crossing in order for the pilgrims to return to the Gaza Strip and refused to succumb to the external pressures exerted to discourage it from doing so.

The spokesman underlined that this step was the result of intensive contacts made by Hamas leadership headed by Khaled Mesha'al, the head of Hamas political bureau, and by the caretaker government headed by Ismail Haniya, saying that those contacts were conducted with the leadership of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, in addition to other Arab leaders and the secretariat of the Arab League.

The spokesman pointed to the statements of some Fateh leaders which tried to drive a wedge between Hamas and the Egyptian leadership, saying: "The attempts of these parties did not stop from fishing in troubled waters, but these attempts cannot deceive us or the Egyptian leadership."

In the same context, Hussein Abu Kuwaik and Faraj Abu Romanan, prominent Hamas leaders in the West Bank, considered this step a triumph against the Israeli siege and pressures and an indication of the possibility of imposing the independence of Palestinian resolution and linking the Palestinian people with its Arab and Islamic depth away from the Israeli blackmail.

The Hamas leaders extended their thanks to the Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, for making a "bold decision" and defying the Israelis, who wanted to prevent the Gaza pilgrims from returning through the Rafah crossing, expressing their hope that this step would be a prelude to breaking the unjust siege on the Palestinian people.

For its part, the PLC expressed its appreciation of all efforts exerted to end the suffering of Gaza pilgrims especially by the Egyptian, Saudi, and Jordanian leaderships, which had a profound impact on the Palestinian people.

The PLC opined that the decision to open the Rafah crossing is a victory for the Palestinians and Arabs especially for Egypt against the cheap blackmail practiced by the Israeli occupation government and some of the parties affiliated with it particularly some of the PA unconstitutional ministers in Ramallah.

Marking the return of Gaza pilgrims through the Rafah crossing, mass marches organized by Hamas flocked into the PLC's courtyard, where thousands of participants chanted slogans and carried banners hailing the efforts of premier Ismail Haniya as well as the steadfastness of Gaza pilgrims who insisted on their return through the Rafah crossing.

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