Hamas: We'll never waive our demands for ending Israeli aggression

[ 15/01/2009 - 12:21 PM ]

DAMASCUS, (PIC)--

The Hamas Movement highlighted that it would never make concessions on its demands for ending the Israeli aggression, lifting the siege and opening the crossings, adding that the ongoing Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip is a desperate attempt to impose a fait accompli on the Palestinian people.

Dr. Moussa Abu Marzouq, the deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, told reporters that the continued Israeli shelling against civilians in Gaza reflects Israel's failure to achieve its objectives, noting that the IOF troops failed to advance into Gaza because of the fierce resistance they found.

Regarding any possible meeting with ex-PA chief Mahmoud Abbas in order to cooperate to end the aggression on Gaza, Dr. Marzouq said that Abbas could not help himself politically because he had secluded himself away from his people and opened the war for Israel to kill this tremendous number of Gaza people.

The Hamas leader added that if Abbas wants to do something on the ground, he must declare a cessation of all negotiations with Israel, call for convening an emergency Arab summit to severe relations with Israel, release all political prisoners in his jails and leave the door open for the West Bank people to express their support for Gaza.

The Hamas leader expressed hope that the meeting of the gulf cooperation council in Riyadh today would be an active Arab effort to tangibly help the Gaza people.

More than a hundred Muslim scholars issued a statement considering the collaboration with the Israeli occupation through closing the Rafah border crossing, and exposing and destroying tunnels in Rafah in order to block food, medicine and any kind of aid from reaching the Gaza people "one of the greatest religious betrayals in the Islamic history."  

The statement said that this Islamic ruling involves all organizations and media outlets which take side with Israel against the Palestinian resistance fighters in Gaza.

Hamas: We expect Arab decisions parallel to the size of Gaza suffering

[ 15/01/2009 - 12:09 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

 The Hamas Movement on Wednesday welcomed any Arab official efforts and decisions in parallel with the magnitude of the suffering and the bloody scene in the Gaza Strip, highlighting that the Arab countries' reluctance to use their pressure cards to end the Israeli war on the Gaza people is no longer justified.

In a press statement, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum hailed the efforts aimed to convene an Arab summit on Gaza, stressing at the same time that his Movement would not stop its efforts to get the siege lifted and end the aggression on the Strip.

Barhoum underlined that Israel's attempts to impose its conditions in any political solutions through killing civilians and destroying their homes would be doomed to failure and would not deter the Palestinian resistance from defending its people and safeguard their rights and welfare.

In the context of the Egyptian ceasefire initiative, Dr. Salah Al-Bardaweel, a prominent leader of Hamas and one of its delegates to Cairo, said that his Movement would not accept less than ending the Israeli aggression, lifting the siege, opening the crossings and compensating the Palestinian people, adding that the delegation put forward these demands to the Egyptian side.

In a news conference held in Cairo, Dr. Bardaweel underscored that there is no disagreement with the Egyptian leadership, but the contentious issue is how to deal with Israel through the items of the ceasefire initiative, pointing that the ball is now in Israel's court.

Qatari Emir disappointed over lack of quorum for emergency Arab summit

[ 15/01/2009 - 11:14 AM ]

DOHA, (PIC)--

The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, has expressed disappointment at the lack of quorum to hold the emergency Arab summit which he called for to discuss the Israeli occupation forces' devastating aggression on the Gaza Strip that has been ongoing for three weeks.

In a speech he delivered Wednesday night to the Arab World, he said that whenever quorum is almost secured it fails to anew.

He said it was a shame to reduce discussion of the IOF aggression to a consultative meeting at the sidelines of a previously prepared summit. He asserted that his call for the extraordinary summit was still on and the decision was left to the Arab leaders.

Sheikh Hamad said that when he delivered his first speech in which he called for holding the summit the number of Palestinian martyrs was 500 and 2400 wounded but now the number has risen to 1033 martyrs and the wounded to 4560.

The Emir said that the summit could have taken important steps such as suspending the Arab peace initiative and ending all forms of normalization with Israel including re-considering diplomatic relations. He added that the summit could also call for an immediate ceasefire, withdrawal of troops, opening crossings and lifting all forms of the illegitimate siege.

He announced the establishment of a fund for the re-construction of the Gaza Strip, declaring that his country would donate 250 million dollars to this fund. He also called for organizing a sea route through which all Arab countries would supply Gaza with its needs.

Israel must be brought to account for its war crimes and crimes against humanity before international courts, Sheikh Hamad underlined in conclusion.

Abbas: Coming hours decisive for achieving ceasefire

Date: 15 / 01 / 2009  Time:  20:50
Ramallah – Ma'an –

Acting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday that the coming hours will be decisive in achieving a ceasefire.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Germany’s foreign affairs minister, Abbas discussed plans for holding a donor conference for expected relief and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.

Immediate reports suggest that up to US $1.4 billion in Gaza’s infrastructure has been destroyed since 27 December.

Abbas added that Israel’s shelling in Gaza “is outrageous and devastating because it targets UN warehouses and compounds.”

“This is not the first time [Israel] shelled schools, mosques, UNRWA buildings and hospitals,” the acting president noted.

Abbas said his understanding of the situation echoes German Foreign Affairs Minister Frank Stienmaier’s, who considers the attacks a “grave tragedy” and “crime committed against the Palestinians in Gaza.”

Abbas welcomed the German official’s plan to bring about a ceasefire to halt military operations and provide humanitarian aid to protect the survivors once the war ends, as well as forming a national unity government.

Concerning an urgent Arab summit schedule for Friday in Doha, Abbas said “we informed the Qatari officials that we will go to this summit,” adding that “we still don’t have information about what will happen there.”

Concerning a Chinese plan, Abbas said the “initiative is good and is within UN Resolution 1860, which also does not conflict with Egypt’s proposal that is being considered on both sides.”