UN Warns of Civilian Severe Suffering in Gaza, Haniya Affirms Israel's Failure Despite its War Crimes

UN official: Gaza people's suffering one of life and death

[ 01/01/2009 - 12:18 PM ]

GENEVA, (PIC)--

The UN coordinator of humanitarian affairs in the occupied Palestinian lands Maxwell Gaylard has warned that the situation in the Gaza Strip was one of life or death for many of its inhabitants.

He said in an official statement that if the killing persisted then more civilians would die and if the crossings remained closed the citizens would be deprived of many basic needs such as wheat and fuel.

Galyard demanded the immediate opening of the Karni (Mintar) crossing to allow entry of wheat consignments into the besieged Strip.

He also said that fuel should be allowed into Gaza to operate the electricity generation station.

European campaign: Cairo's refusal to open crossing stab in back of Palestinians

[ 01/01/2009 - 12:00 PM ]

BRUSSELS, (PIC)--

The European campaign to lift the siege on Gaza has expressed absolute dismay at Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's televised address on Tuesday in which he declared refusal to open the Rafah border terminal with Gaza despite the ongoing Israeli massacres.

Mubarak said that the crossing would be only opened when the PA leadership's forces return to Gaza and in the presence of European observers.

In a statement from Brussels on Wednesday the campaign described Mubarak's statement as a "stab in the back of the Palestinian people".

It charged that the Egyptian stand represents an unprecedented actual participation in the aggression on Gaza.

The campaign asked Mubarak to retract his position, holding him responsible for the lives of the wounded who fall in hundreds in the ongoing Israeli military attacks on Gaza.

Khudari: Arab FMs decisions "disappointing"

[ 01/01/2009 - 10:12 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

MP Jamal Al-Khudari, the head of the popular anti siege committee in Gaza, has asserted that the Arab foreign ministers should have agreed on lifting the siege on Gaza and ending the Israeli aggression in addition to backing the Palestinian people with all means.

Khudari in a statement on Wednesday said that the decisions adopted by the Arab foreign ministerial meeting at the Arab League in Cairo were disappointing.

He said that current circumstances furnish the way before a comprehensive Arab unity to confront aggression and support the Palestinian people's steadfastness more than any time before.

The MP pointed in this respect to the worsening humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip including thousands of casualties, tightened siege and closure of all crossings, which in turn entailed sharp reduction in aid and relief assistance.

The Arab foreign ministers decided at conclusion of their meeting on Wednesday to table a draft resolution with the UN Security Council demanding an immediate halt to the Israeli aggression on Gaza and opening of all crossings.

IOF aggression escalates with 30 air raids in few hours

[ 01/01/2009 - 12:13 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Thursday escalated their relentless air raids that amounted to 30 aerial strikes in a few hours and naval bombardment of the Gaza Strip killing five more Palestinians including a woman.

Local reports said that IOF warplanes blasted the fishermen's pier and an agricultural field west of Khan Younis, south of the Strip, following 25 raids that were launched on Wednesday night.

The reports said that IOF leveled five residential buildings bringing to 40 the number of buildings flattened since Saturday other than hundreds of homes that were partially damaged.

The IOF warplanes also targeted a mosque south of Gaza city, the Palestine Legislative Council's premises in addition to the ministries of justice and education along with a foundry, Jabalia police station, aluminum factory and a civil defense headquarters.

Acting PLC speaker Dr. Ahmed Bahar described the IOF destruction of the PLC premises as a "savage crime", and called on the world parliaments to intervene to halt and expose the aggression.

Two Palestinians one in Gaza and one in the West Bank died on Wednesday night from severe wounds inflicted by the IOF firing in the West Bank town of Na'lin and the other in air raids on Gaza.

The Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, declared responsibility for firing 58 missiles at Israeli targets adjacent to the Gaza Strip on Wednesday including 14 Grad missiles.

The armed wing also said that one of its fighters was killed in an exchange of fire with an IOF unit that tried to infiltrate into east of Khan Younis on Wednesday night.

The IOF military attacks have claimed the lives of more than 400 Palestinians and wounded almost 2000 others.

Haniya: Israel will fail in achieving its goals in Gaza

[ 01/01/2009 - 11:12 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Ismail Haniya, the premier of the PA caretaker government in Gaza, has asserted that the Israeli military adventure in the Gaza Strip would end up in failure and would achieve none of its goals.

Haniya, addressing the Palestinian people in a speech broadcast on the Aqsa TV station on Wednesday evening, said that what is going on in Gaza is a real war. "This is a war without ethics or principles that surpassed all norms and heavenly and earthly morals. It is a war of annihilation in which all types of weapons are being used and in which none is being spared," he elaborated.

However, the premier stressed that the Palestinian internal front was solid and the people of Gaza would emerge victorious.

The enemy wanted to employ this war of genocide to liquidate a cause and to end a certain project, Haneyya said, asserting that the war was not against Hamas or the government despite being its declared purpose, "but in fact the war is directed against all Palestinians and against their potentials, institutions and property, and is targeting the Palestine cause and the Palestinians' future".

The Islamic Ummah (Nation) and the free world would not accept continuation of this "mad war" on an unarmed people and a tiny strip of land, the premier opined.

He said that the popular and official protests worldwide against this war indicates that Gaza was not alone in the face of the aggression, and indicates that the oppression befalling Gaza is big and finally that it has occupied the hearts of millions of freedom loving peoples around the world.

The premier underscored that the Palestinian people's main battle was and would continue to be with the Israeli occupation of their lands, adding that the Palestinians would not get involved in marginal battles.

He reiterated demands for ending siege, halting aggression and opening crossings including that of Rafah.

Haniya renewed welcome to national dialogue but said that it should be preceded by a number of steps on the part of the PA chief and his leadership in Ramallah topped by releasing all political detainees in the West Bank, declaring unequivocally the demand for opening all Gaza crossings and ending the siege and finally desisting from the hostile propaganda campaigns.

The premier concluded his speech by saying, "victory is near".

Muzzaini: Resistance preparing surprises for IOF

[ 01/01/2009 - 11:04 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Dr. Osama Al-Muzzaini, one of the political leaders of the Hamas Movement in Gaza Strip, has underlined that Palestinian resistance was still capable to strike and was preparing "surprises" for the Israeli occupation forces.

He told the media office of Hamas in east Gaza city that Hamas would never acquiesce to the "enemy's humiliating conditions", recalling that his Movement refused better conditions for a ceasefire.

"We will not accept humiliating conditions for our people regardless of losses or sacrifices," he said.

Muzzaini charged that Egypt was colluding with the Zionist enemy and was a partner in the aggression, adding that Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman was quoted as saying that Hamas should be taught a lesson and that Hamas was led by a "gang".

He also charged PA chief Mahmoud Abbas with collaboration with Israel in its aggression on Gaza, adding that his request for a meeting with Hamas and all other factions was meant to cover up for his "dirty role" in the ongoing war on Gaza.

For its part, the Islamic Jihad Movement said in a statement on Wednesday that the battle in Gaza was furnishing the way before a better Palestinian future.

It expressed conviction that the "Zionist enemy" was heading to a new retreat and certain defeat.

"The scattered remains and destroyed buildings are clear proof of the enemy's bankruptcy and failure in face of resistance's steadfastness and success," the Jihad opined.

Masri: We will win the battle in Gaza

[ 01/01/2009 - 01:44 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Palestinian lawmaker Mushir Al-Masri of Hamas Movement has rejected Wednesday allegations of some Arab circles that Hamas was a "card in the hand of Iran and Syria", asserting that Hamas would win the battle against Israel in Gaza.

According to Masri, those repeating such allegations were part of the Israeli and American agenda in the region that "totally surrendered to the US and raised the white flag".

"Such abnormal voices should go away and leave the arena to the real men to restore the honor and dignity of the Arab Ummah", underlined Masri in an interview with the Quds Press.

Throwing the ball in the court of Hamas's detractors, Masri accused those who "stabbed the resistance in the back" of allying themselves with the enemy" in fighting the Palestinian resistance just to preserve their positions.

He also stressed that Hamas was and still is the first line of defense in the Arab Ummah against the Israeli occupation government, and not a "card" in the hand of any country.

Internally, Masri underscored that the PA government of Ismael Haneyya was following up in detail what is happening in Gaza Strip, and that members of the PA government were participating in morning martyrs and participating in funerals.

He lashed at PA chief Mahmoud Abbas and the PA government in Ramallah city, asserting that Abbas's dream of returning to Gaza on an Israeli tank won't be realized.

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