5 mar 2014
A spokesman for the Gaza Strip Ministry of Interior spokesman denied reports of the death of a Muslim Brotherhood leader in Gaza in recent days.
Islam Shahwan said in a statement that the claims were untrue and "not worth answering," stressing that the Muslim Brotherhood's Deputy Supreme Guide Mahmoud Ezzat was never in Gaza.
Shahwan's statements follow claims by the "Brotherhood Without Violence" group on its Facebook page earlier on Wednesday that Ezzat was killed by militants in a hotel in Gaza recently.
Brotherhood Without Violence is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood that seeks to reform the movement from the inside, but which has voiced opposition to the groups close links to Hamas.
On Tuesday, an Egyptian court on Tuesday banned the activities of Hamas in Egypt and ordered its assets seized, amid accusations that the group "plotted" with deposed president Mohamed Morsi to commit "terror attacks" across the country.
Ties between Cairo and Hamas, the Palestinian affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood, flourished during Morsi's year in power but have deteriorated since the military coup against the democratically-elected Muslim Brotherhood government on July 3.
Islam Shahwan said in a statement that the claims were untrue and "not worth answering," stressing that the Muslim Brotherhood's Deputy Supreme Guide Mahmoud Ezzat was never in Gaza.
Shahwan's statements follow claims by the "Brotherhood Without Violence" group on its Facebook page earlier on Wednesday that Ezzat was killed by militants in a hotel in Gaza recently.
Brotherhood Without Violence is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood that seeks to reform the movement from the inside, but which has voiced opposition to the groups close links to Hamas.
On Tuesday, an Egyptian court on Tuesday banned the activities of Hamas in Egypt and ordered its assets seized, amid accusations that the group "plotted" with deposed president Mohamed Morsi to commit "terror attacks" across the country.
Ties between Cairo and Hamas, the Palestinian affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood, flourished during Morsi's year in power but have deteriorated since the military coup against the democratically-elected Muslim Brotherhood government on July 3.
Egyptian security forces arrested 12 Sudanese migrants as they attempted to cross into Israel through the Sinai Peninsula, security sources told Ma’an Wednesday.
The sources highlighted that the detainees were referred to Egyptian military prosecution.
They would be deported to Sudan unless they have been caught trying to infiltrate into Israel before. If it was not the first time, they will be jailed in Egypt, the sources added.
The sources highlighted that the detainees were referred to Egyptian military prosecution.
They would be deported to Sudan unless they have been caught trying to infiltrate into Israel before. If it was not the first time, they will be jailed in Egypt, the sources added.
Senior Hamas leader Dr. Mahmoud Zahhar has described the Cairo court decision banning all activities for Hamas in Egypt and closing its offices as “political par excellence”.
An Egyptian court had passed a decision on Tuesday labeling Hamas as a “terrorist organization” and thus ordered banning its activities and closing its offices in Egypt if there were any.
Zahhar said in a statement on his Facebook page on Wednesday that Egypt after this court decision had “lost its role in the (Palestinian) reconciliation”.
Zahhar, political bureau member of Hamas, said that his movement would sue the lawyer who filed this lawsuit against Hamas at the opportune time.
He added that justice was absent in this decision because it was issued in the absence of any defense for Hamas and did not provide substantial evidence to the “lies” of that lawyer.
This decision criminalizes Hamas that engaged in four wars against Israel in six years and was never defeated, the Hamas leader said, adding that the decision greatly served the “Zionist project”.
Hamas has no offices or funds in Egypt while Israel has an embassy there, Zahhar said, adding that the Egyptian authorities close the Rafah border crossing with Gaza in face of patients and civilians while allowing Israelis entry without visas through the Taba crossing.
An Egyptian court had passed a decision on Tuesday labeling Hamas as a “terrorist organization” and thus ordered banning its activities and closing its offices in Egypt if there were any.
Zahhar said in a statement on his Facebook page on Wednesday that Egypt after this court decision had “lost its role in the (Palestinian) reconciliation”.
Zahhar, political bureau member of Hamas, said that his movement would sue the lawyer who filed this lawsuit against Hamas at the opportune time.
He added that justice was absent in this decision because it was issued in the absence of any defense for Hamas and did not provide substantial evidence to the “lies” of that lawyer.
This decision criminalizes Hamas that engaged in four wars against Israel in six years and was never defeated, the Hamas leader said, adding that the decision greatly served the “Zionist project”.
Hamas has no offices or funds in Egypt while Israel has an embassy there, Zahhar said, adding that the Egyptian authorities close the Rafah border crossing with Gaza in face of patients and civilians while allowing Israelis entry without visas through the Taba crossing.
Leader of the Tunisian Ennahda Movement Sheikh Rashid Ghannouchi slammed the decision of the Egyptian judiciary classifying Hamas as a terrorist organization, and considered it an unjust decision. "It is an unjust decision issued by an unjust system", Ghannouchi said in remarks to Quds Press.
A Cairo court has decided on Tuesday to consider the Islamic resistance movement Hamas a terrorist organization and to ban its activities and close its headquarters in Egypt, if there are any.
For his part, head of the Palestinian Forum in Britain Ziad Aloul described as unfair the judicial ruling issued by the Cairo court, and said it represents a collective punishment that would harm the interests of the Palestinian people.
Aloul urged in statements to Quds Press the Egyptian authorities to revoke this decision.
The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) has also called on the Egyptian authorities to reverse its decision to ban activities of Hamas in Egypt and to confiscate its money.
Dr. Ahmed Bahar, the first deputy speaker of PLC, said in a press statement: "The Egyptian decision does not serve the Palestinian cause. It is targeting the legitimate Palestinian resistance against the Israeli occupation," and asked the Egyptian authorities to annul the decision.
The Ministry of Interior and National Security in Gaza in a statement on Tuesday denounced the Cairo court's verdict and said it is targeting the Palestinian people and their resistance and is placing Hamas in the category of enemies of Egypt.
The ministry called upon the Egyptian authorities to cancel this resolution, and to take instead a clear decision to lift the blockade imposed on Gaza and to support the Palestinians and their resistance by all means.
A Cairo court has decided on Tuesday to consider the Islamic resistance movement Hamas a terrorist organization and to ban its activities and close its headquarters in Egypt, if there are any.
For his part, head of the Palestinian Forum in Britain Ziad Aloul described as unfair the judicial ruling issued by the Cairo court, and said it represents a collective punishment that would harm the interests of the Palestinian people.
Aloul urged in statements to Quds Press the Egyptian authorities to revoke this decision.
The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) has also called on the Egyptian authorities to reverse its decision to ban activities of Hamas in Egypt and to confiscate its money.
Dr. Ahmed Bahar, the first deputy speaker of PLC, said in a press statement: "The Egyptian decision does not serve the Palestinian cause. It is targeting the legitimate Palestinian resistance against the Israeli occupation," and asked the Egyptian authorities to annul the decision.
The Ministry of Interior and National Security in Gaza in a statement on Tuesday denounced the Cairo court's verdict and said it is targeting the Palestinian people and their resistance and is placing Hamas in the category of enemies of Egypt.
The ministry called upon the Egyptian authorities to cancel this resolution, and to take instead a clear decision to lift the blockade imposed on Gaza and to support the Palestinians and their resistance by all means.
4 mar 2014
By Khalid Amayreh in Occupied Palestine
In a relentless effort to undermine Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic liberation organization, Fatah, the political party of Mahmoud Abbas, the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority (PA), has been trying unceasingly to turn the military coup authority in Cairo against the legitimate government in Gaza.
According to reliable data that has been accumulating for the past six months, Fatah operatives have employed every conceivable lie and every piece of disinformation to incite the Sissi junta against Hamas.
The disinformation campaign is based on the scandalously mendacious assumption that Hamas is involved in the internal insurrection facing the military authorities in Cairo ever since the 30-June coup.
Both the Sissi regime's intelligence and Fatah leadership do know that Hamas is totally innocent of all the concocted "intelligence" reports and other insinuations and innuendos fabricated by Fatah.
Indeed, the Egyptian authorities are yet to produce any piece of credible evidence indicting Hamas. Yes, some suspects have been arrested but these suspects turned out to be agents of the PA and had absolutely nothing to do with Hamas.
Now, Fatah is instigating the Cairo junta to declare Hamas a terrorist organization. Fatah is hoping that such a measure by Cairo would further narrow Hamas horizons and might eventually precipitate unrest in the Gaza Strip.
To be sure, Fatah had used a variety of cheap tactics to unsettle Hamas and force it to agree to return the coastal enclave to the status quo ante, when various Fatah militias, including that of Muhammad Dahlan, spread chaos, insecurity, corruption and even promiscuity. (See for example David Hirst's investigative article in the Guardian in 1999 'Shameful in Gaza,' " .
Hamas has always said and continues to say it doesn't and will not interfere in the internal affairs of Arab countries. Even in Syria, where the manifestly murderous sectarian regime of Bashar el-Assad has been slaughtering his own people en masse for three consecutive years, Hamas has adopted more or less a neutral position, which made the movement incur a barrage of scathing criticisms from several quarters.
But Hamas cannot and will not commit blaspheme and apostasy by embracing a regime that claims to be trying to liberate Palestine and destroy Israel by dropping cluster bombs on women and children waiting in long queues outside bakeries in Halab and Hama and other Syrian cities.
The same thing can be said about Hamas's stance toward the Egyptian crisis. True Hamas cannot and doesn't speak for 90 million Egyptians. Hamas cannot tell the people of Egypt which political party they ought to elect or whom to elect as their president. This is none of Hamas's business. In the final analysis, Hamas is too small and too weak to intervene or interfere in Egypt.
However, this doesn't mean that Hamas should give legitimacy or bless the pornographic massacres committed by the Sissi gang against his own people at Rabaa and Nahda and the streets of Egypt.
Hamas, like honest people all over the globe, will not commit a moral suicide by supporting an expressly fascist regime that all signs indicate is at Israel's beck and call.
More to the point, Hamas has no interest whatsoever in antagonizing Egypt, irrespective of which government rules in Cairo. The Gaza Strip is too dependent on Egypt to alienate any regime in Cairo.
This leaves us with the logical conclusion that the Egyptian regime, which lacks any legitimacy save the legitimacy of the fait accompli, is punishing Hamas out of ideological vengeance, e.g. because of the group's Islamic ideology and historical bonds with the Muslim Brotherhood, the largest and most authentic Sunni Islamic movement in the Arab world, now being hysterically witch-hunted by the Sissi regime on Israel's behalf.
This is not a pro-Ikhwan propaganda. We, who live in occupied Palestine, do read and watch the Israeli media and we know the deep Israeli infatuation with Abdul Fatah Sissi for "doing the job on Israel's behalf."
It is no secret that the charlatan general is being celebrated in Israel for carrying out a bloody coup against a democratically-elected President who refused to give Israel a green light to gang up on the Palestinians and who effectively created a linkage between Egyptian compliance with the Camp David peace treaty with Israel on the one hand and Israeli behaviors toward the Palestinians on the other.
In light, there is no doubt that any vindictive measure by the Egyptian "courts," which we all know act as a rubber stamp in the hands of the virulent Sissi regime, would be done in the service of Israeli interests, probably in the hope that such a treachery would prompt the American Jewish lobby, which tightly controls Congress, to issue a certificate of good conduct for the failing regime that is morphing Egypt into a failed state.
But the free men and women of the world as well as the Egyptian, Arab and Muslim masses are closely watching the unethical, indeed the treasonous conduct of Sissi and his nefarious regime. It is hoped that this treason which is taking place in broad daylight will accelerate the process of consigning this regime to the dustbin of history.
In a relentless effort to undermine Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic liberation organization, Fatah, the political party of Mahmoud Abbas, the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority (PA), has been trying unceasingly to turn the military coup authority in Cairo against the legitimate government in Gaza.
According to reliable data that has been accumulating for the past six months, Fatah operatives have employed every conceivable lie and every piece of disinformation to incite the Sissi junta against Hamas.
The disinformation campaign is based on the scandalously mendacious assumption that Hamas is involved in the internal insurrection facing the military authorities in Cairo ever since the 30-June coup.
Both the Sissi regime's intelligence and Fatah leadership do know that Hamas is totally innocent of all the concocted "intelligence" reports and other insinuations and innuendos fabricated by Fatah.
Indeed, the Egyptian authorities are yet to produce any piece of credible evidence indicting Hamas. Yes, some suspects have been arrested but these suspects turned out to be agents of the PA and had absolutely nothing to do with Hamas.
Now, Fatah is instigating the Cairo junta to declare Hamas a terrorist organization. Fatah is hoping that such a measure by Cairo would further narrow Hamas horizons and might eventually precipitate unrest in the Gaza Strip.
To be sure, Fatah had used a variety of cheap tactics to unsettle Hamas and force it to agree to return the coastal enclave to the status quo ante, when various Fatah militias, including that of Muhammad Dahlan, spread chaos, insecurity, corruption and even promiscuity. (See for example David Hirst's investigative article in the Guardian in 1999 'Shameful in Gaza,' " .
Hamas has always said and continues to say it doesn't and will not interfere in the internal affairs of Arab countries. Even in Syria, where the manifestly murderous sectarian regime of Bashar el-Assad has been slaughtering his own people en masse for three consecutive years, Hamas has adopted more or less a neutral position, which made the movement incur a barrage of scathing criticisms from several quarters.
But Hamas cannot and will not commit blaspheme and apostasy by embracing a regime that claims to be trying to liberate Palestine and destroy Israel by dropping cluster bombs on women and children waiting in long queues outside bakeries in Halab and Hama and other Syrian cities.
The same thing can be said about Hamas's stance toward the Egyptian crisis. True Hamas cannot and doesn't speak for 90 million Egyptians. Hamas cannot tell the people of Egypt which political party they ought to elect or whom to elect as their president. This is none of Hamas's business. In the final analysis, Hamas is too small and too weak to intervene or interfere in Egypt.
However, this doesn't mean that Hamas should give legitimacy or bless the pornographic massacres committed by the Sissi gang against his own people at Rabaa and Nahda and the streets of Egypt.
Hamas, like honest people all over the globe, will not commit a moral suicide by supporting an expressly fascist regime that all signs indicate is at Israel's beck and call.
More to the point, Hamas has no interest whatsoever in antagonizing Egypt, irrespective of which government rules in Cairo. The Gaza Strip is too dependent on Egypt to alienate any regime in Cairo.
This leaves us with the logical conclusion that the Egyptian regime, which lacks any legitimacy save the legitimacy of the fait accompli, is punishing Hamas out of ideological vengeance, e.g. because of the group's Islamic ideology and historical bonds with the Muslim Brotherhood, the largest and most authentic Sunni Islamic movement in the Arab world, now being hysterically witch-hunted by the Sissi regime on Israel's behalf.
This is not a pro-Ikhwan propaganda. We, who live in occupied Palestine, do read and watch the Israeli media and we know the deep Israeli infatuation with Abdul Fatah Sissi for "doing the job on Israel's behalf."
It is no secret that the charlatan general is being celebrated in Israel for carrying out a bloody coup against a democratically-elected President who refused to give Israel a green light to gang up on the Palestinians and who effectively created a linkage between Egyptian compliance with the Camp David peace treaty with Israel on the one hand and Israeli behaviors toward the Palestinians on the other.
In light, there is no doubt that any vindictive measure by the Egyptian "courts," which we all know act as a rubber stamp in the hands of the virulent Sissi regime, would be done in the service of Israeli interests, probably in the hope that such a treachery would prompt the American Jewish lobby, which tightly controls Congress, to issue a certificate of good conduct for the failing regime that is morphing Egypt into a failed state.
But the free men and women of the world as well as the Egyptian, Arab and Muslim masses are closely watching the unethical, indeed the treasonous conduct of Sissi and his nefarious regime. It is hoped that this treason which is taking place in broad daylight will accelerate the process of consigning this regime to the dustbin of history.
Hamas movement said in a statement on Tuesday that the Egyptian court decision banning Hamas’s activities and closing its offices in Cairo was political par excellence. Hamas declared its rejection of the decision, which, it said, was issued by the Egyptian court to enhance hostility to Palestinian resistance in service of political goals.
The movement said that it had no offices or activities in Egypt, charging that the decision reflected clear antagonism to resistance and only served the “Zionist occupation”.
The decision, which Hamas described as null and void, fell in line with the media incitement campaign against the Palestinian people and their “brave resistance”.
Hamas asked the Palestinian and Egyptian peoples in addition to Arabs, Muslims and free people of the world to stand up to such “oppressive decisions” that target the Palestinian resistance and came in harmony with the Zio-American strategy in the region.
The movement said that it had no offices or activities in Egypt, charging that the decision reflected clear antagonism to resistance and only served the “Zionist occupation”.
The decision, which Hamas described as null and void, fell in line with the media incitement campaign against the Palestinian people and their “brave resistance”.
Hamas asked the Palestinian and Egyptian peoples in addition to Arabs, Muslims and free people of the world to stand up to such “oppressive decisions” that target the Palestinian resistance and came in harmony with the Zio-American strategy in the region.
Professor of Political Science at Egyptian universities Dr. Abdullah Ashaal called on the Egyptian authorities not to implement the decision issued by a Cairo court on Tuesday considering Hamas a “terrorist organization”. The court decided to ban Hamas activities in Egypt and close the movement's offices, if there are any.
Ashaal, in a statement to Quds Press Agency, ruled out the possibility that the Egyptian state will respond to such judicial ruling.
He said: "This decision represents the viewpoint of one of the Egyptian courts ... and is an outcome of the media incitement campaign waged against Hamas and the Gaza Strip."
The Political Science Professor stressed that the implementation of this decision would be a historic and strategic mistake, as it will only serve the interests of the Israeli occupation.
"I think that the implementation of this step would be against the Egyptian national security. The interests of Egypt will be achieved through the support of the resistance," he added.
The Egyptian court's decision to ban the Hamas movement has been met with strong condemnation by different Palestinian personalities; some of them saw it as a participation in the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and the project to liquidate the resistance.
Palestinian MP Nasser Abdel Jawad said in a statement to Quds Press that the Hamas movement has been making sacrifices to protect and defend Jerusalem, and called for stopping targeting it.
He stressed that the actions taken against the movement "are suspicious, and seek to distort the resistance and classify it as a terrorist organization."
For his part, Hamas spokesman Husam Badran asserted that the decision of the Egyptian court "has no value", as his movement has no offices or activities in Egypt.
The Palestinian political analyst and writer Sari Orabi stressed that the decision to ban Hamas by an Egyptian court, "is an offense that aim to tighten the blockade on the Gaza Strip."
He added in an interview with Quds Press reporter that "the coup regime came mainly to liquidate the resistance in the Nation and the Palestinian cause ... whoever supports the coup in Egypt is an accomplice to the conspiracy to liquidate the Palestinian resistance," he said.
Arabi pointed out that the court's decision was taken in the context of "settling political and ideological accounts with the Muslim Brotherhood."
Ashaal, in a statement to Quds Press Agency, ruled out the possibility that the Egyptian state will respond to such judicial ruling.
He said: "This decision represents the viewpoint of one of the Egyptian courts ... and is an outcome of the media incitement campaign waged against Hamas and the Gaza Strip."
The Political Science Professor stressed that the implementation of this decision would be a historic and strategic mistake, as it will only serve the interests of the Israeli occupation.
"I think that the implementation of this step would be against the Egyptian national security. The interests of Egypt will be achieved through the support of the resistance," he added.
The Egyptian court's decision to ban the Hamas movement has been met with strong condemnation by different Palestinian personalities; some of them saw it as a participation in the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and the project to liquidate the resistance.
Palestinian MP Nasser Abdel Jawad said in a statement to Quds Press that the Hamas movement has been making sacrifices to protect and defend Jerusalem, and called for stopping targeting it.
He stressed that the actions taken against the movement "are suspicious, and seek to distort the resistance and classify it as a terrorist organization."
For his part, Hamas spokesman Husam Badran asserted that the decision of the Egyptian court "has no value", as his movement has no offices or activities in Egypt.
The Palestinian political analyst and writer Sari Orabi stressed that the decision to ban Hamas by an Egyptian court, "is an offense that aim to tighten the blockade on the Gaza Strip."
He added in an interview with Quds Press reporter that "the coup regime came mainly to liquidate the resistance in the Nation and the Palestinian cause ... whoever supports the coup in Egypt is an accomplice to the conspiracy to liquidate the Palestinian resistance," he said.
Arabi pointed out that the court's decision was taken in the context of "settling political and ideological accounts with the Muslim Brotherhood."
Palestinian political figures and academics have strongly condemned Cairo court's decision to outlaw Hamas movement's activities in Egypt, considering it a part of the Israeli siege on Gaza Strip and the Israeli scheme to liquidate resistance. Ezzat Resheq, member of the political bureau of Hamas, criticized the Egyptian court's decision against Hamas movement considering it a political decision that targets Palestinian people and resistance.
An Egyptian court on Tuesday outlawed the activities of Hamas movement and ordered the closure of its offices in Egypt.
Resheq earlier warned of discussing a lawsuit in an Egyptian court that aims to classify Hamas as a "terrorist movement", saying that such a decision only serves the occupation.
Recognizing Hamas movement as a "terrorist movement" in Egypt is a serious precedent that aims to tighten the unfair siege imposed on Gaza Strip and to pave the way for Israeli aggressions and attacks against the Palestinian people in Gaza, he said.
He expressed surprise over issuing such a decision in an Egyptian court according to fabricated lies.
For his part, Hamas spokesman and senior leader in the movement Hossam Badran stated that such a decision has no value and distorts its makers.
“Hamas has no offices or activities in Egypt, our previous activities mainly took place at the Egyptian intelligence headquarters under the framework of truce and reconciliation agreements”, he explained.
In his turn, MP Hassan Youssef considered the Egyptian court's decision to outlaw Hamas activities as an unjustified and unacceptable step.
He stressed that this decision only serves Israeli interests and aims to liquidate Palestinian resistance.
MP Youssef said that an incitement campaign in Egyptian media outlets has preceded the court's decision, stressing that there is no evidence that proves Hamas's involvement in “Egyptian internal affairs”.
“We appreciate the Egyptian people's historical positions in support of Palestinian cause”, he confirmed, saying that this step has been imposed on the majority of Egyptian people.
Palestinian political analyst Surry Arabi stated that issuing such a decision by Egyptian court came in parallel with tightening the Gaza Strip siege by Egyptian authorities.
The Egyptian military coup came mainly to liquidate the Palestinian cause and resistance option in the region, according to Arabi's statement.
Supporters of the military coup in Egypt are involved in the conspiracy against Palestinian resistance and cause, he added.
On the other hand, Abdul Sattar Qassem, a professor of political science at the Najah University in Nablus, stated that the Egyptian court's decision serves as credentials to Israel and the American administration.
Qassem said that the Egyptian recent step against Palestinian resistance represents the shortest way to gain political and financial support from the West and certain Arab countries.
He stated that this decision aims to tighten the unfair siege imposed on Gaza Strip and to increase incitement against Palestinian people.
An Egyptian court on Tuesday outlawed the activities of Hamas movement and ordered the closure of its offices in Egypt.
Resheq earlier warned of discussing a lawsuit in an Egyptian court that aims to classify Hamas as a "terrorist movement", saying that such a decision only serves the occupation.
Recognizing Hamas movement as a "terrorist movement" in Egypt is a serious precedent that aims to tighten the unfair siege imposed on Gaza Strip and to pave the way for Israeli aggressions and attacks against the Palestinian people in Gaza, he said.
He expressed surprise over issuing such a decision in an Egyptian court according to fabricated lies.
For his part, Hamas spokesman and senior leader in the movement Hossam Badran stated that such a decision has no value and distorts its makers.
“Hamas has no offices or activities in Egypt, our previous activities mainly took place at the Egyptian intelligence headquarters under the framework of truce and reconciliation agreements”, he explained.
In his turn, MP Hassan Youssef considered the Egyptian court's decision to outlaw Hamas activities as an unjustified and unacceptable step.
He stressed that this decision only serves Israeli interests and aims to liquidate Palestinian resistance.
MP Youssef said that an incitement campaign in Egyptian media outlets has preceded the court's decision, stressing that there is no evidence that proves Hamas's involvement in “Egyptian internal affairs”.
“We appreciate the Egyptian people's historical positions in support of Palestinian cause”, he confirmed, saying that this step has been imposed on the majority of Egyptian people.
Palestinian political analyst Surry Arabi stated that issuing such a decision by Egyptian court came in parallel with tightening the Gaza Strip siege by Egyptian authorities.
The Egyptian military coup came mainly to liquidate the Palestinian cause and resistance option in the region, according to Arabi's statement.
Supporters of the military coup in Egypt are involved in the conspiracy against Palestinian resistance and cause, he added.
On the other hand, Abdul Sattar Qassem, a professor of political science at the Najah University in Nablus, stated that the Egyptian court's decision serves as credentials to Israel and the American administration.
Qassem said that the Egyptian recent step against Palestinian resistance represents the shortest way to gain political and financial support from the West and certain Arab countries.
He stated that this decision aims to tighten the unfair siege imposed on Gaza Strip and to increase incitement against Palestinian people.
An Egyptian court on Tuesday banned the activities of Hamas and ordered its assets seized, a judicial source said.
Hamas denounced the move, which it said "serves the (Israeli) occupation."
Egyptian officials have accused Hamas of plotting with deposed president Mohamed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood movement to carry out "terror attacks" in the country.
Several Hamas members have been named among scores of defendants on trial with Morsi for organizing jailbreaks and attacking police stations during the 2011 revolt that toppled strongman Hosni Mubarak.
In a separate espionage trial, Morsi and 35 other defendants are accused of conspiring with foreign powers, including Hamas and Iran, to destabilize Egypt.
Ties between Cairo and Hamas, the Palestinian affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood, flourished during Morsi's year in power but have deteriorated since the military coup on July 3.
Cairo's new military-installed authorities were furious after Hamas officials openly criticized their decision to outlaw the Muslim Brotherhood, the target of a deadly crackdown since Morsi's ouster.
Amnesty International says more than 1,400 people have been killed in street clashes, mostly supporters of Morsi, since his overthrow.
Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim told AFP the court's decision was "an attempt to besiege the resistance, and serves the Israeli occupation."
Egyptian troops have destroyed hundreds of smuggling tunnels under the border with Gaza used to supply the Palestinian enclave with fuel and construction materials due to Israeli restrictions.
Hamas has denied accusations by Egyptian officials that it is involved in fighting in the Sinai Peninsula, where militant attacks on security forces have surged since July.
Hamas denounced the move, which it said "serves the (Israeli) occupation."
Egyptian officials have accused Hamas of plotting with deposed president Mohamed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood movement to carry out "terror attacks" in the country.
Several Hamas members have been named among scores of defendants on trial with Morsi for organizing jailbreaks and attacking police stations during the 2011 revolt that toppled strongman Hosni Mubarak.
In a separate espionage trial, Morsi and 35 other defendants are accused of conspiring with foreign powers, including Hamas and Iran, to destabilize Egypt.
Ties between Cairo and Hamas, the Palestinian affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood, flourished during Morsi's year in power but have deteriorated since the military coup on July 3.
Cairo's new military-installed authorities were furious after Hamas officials openly criticized their decision to outlaw the Muslim Brotherhood, the target of a deadly crackdown since Morsi's ouster.
Amnesty International says more than 1,400 people have been killed in street clashes, mostly supporters of Morsi, since his overthrow.
Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim told AFP the court's decision was "an attempt to besiege the resistance, and serves the Israeli occupation."
Egyptian troops have destroyed hundreds of smuggling tunnels under the border with Gaza used to supply the Palestinian enclave with fuel and construction materials due to Israeli restrictions.
Hamas has denied accusations by Egyptian officials that it is involved in fighting in the Sinai Peninsula, where militant attacks on security forces have surged since July.
3 mar 2014
Yousuf Rezqa , the political advisor to Palestinian PM in Gaza, said that the Egyptian stance towards opening the Rafah crossing is still unclear leading to aggravating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. He said in a statement to Safa Monday, “ To open Rafah crossing for three days every half month , Egypt restricts the Palestinian right of movement.”
He demanded the Egyptian Authorities to open the crossing permanently in front of Palestinian passengers, pointing out that the Egyptian intelligence and the Egyptian ambassador in Ramallah are still discussing the point.
“The political and security decision that determines opening Rafah crossing go against what is announced, however its goals are ambiguous and no one in the strip knows the real reason behind it,” he added.
He denounced the security reasons , claimed by Egypt, for closing the crossing , especially those related to Sinai, stressing that they are not the direct reason .
“The Palestinian citizen has the right of free movement under the international law,” he confirmed, adding, “ imposing the blockade on the people of a country, denying them the right of movement is illegal.
Egyptian authorities continue closing Rafah crossing for the third week in a raw, hindering the traveling of thousands of Gazans including patients and students.
He demanded the Egyptian Authorities to open the crossing permanently in front of Palestinian passengers, pointing out that the Egyptian intelligence and the Egyptian ambassador in Ramallah are still discussing the point.
“The political and security decision that determines opening Rafah crossing go against what is announced, however its goals are ambiguous and no one in the strip knows the real reason behind it,” he added.
He denounced the security reasons , claimed by Egypt, for closing the crossing , especially those related to Sinai, stressing that they are not the direct reason .
“The Palestinian citizen has the right of free movement under the international law,” he confirmed, adding, “ imposing the blockade on the people of a country, denying them the right of movement is illegal.
Egyptian authorities continue closing Rafah crossing for the third week in a raw, hindering the traveling of thousands of Gazans including patients and students.
Palestinian deputy minister of economy Hatem Oweida called on Egypt to necessarily activate the economic cooperation file with the Gaza Strip, and contribute to lifting the Gazan population out of the grinding blockade imposed on them for nearly eight years. Oweida made his remarks on Sunday in the radio program "an interview with an official" that is hosted by the ministry of information in Gaza.
"The continued Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip restricts the movements of goods, especially building materials, food supplies and medicines that has reached levels not meeting the needs of the population in the Gaza Strip," the deputy minister of economy stated.
He appealed to the international community to urgently move to end the blockade on Gaza and ensure the free movement of goods and individuals at Gaza crossings according to the international law.
The official noted that Egypt's closure of the Rafah border crossing and tunnels worsened the humanitarian situation in Gaza, affirming that the Rafah tunnels had met the vital needs of the Gaza population by at least 40 percent.
"The continued Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip restricts the movements of goods, especially building materials, food supplies and medicines that has reached levels not meeting the needs of the population in the Gaza Strip," the deputy minister of economy stated.
He appealed to the international community to urgently move to end the blockade on Gaza and ensure the free movement of goods and individuals at Gaza crossings according to the international law.
The official noted that Egypt's closure of the Rafah border crossing and tunnels worsened the humanitarian situation in Gaza, affirming that the Rafah tunnels had met the vital needs of the Gaza population by at least 40 percent.
Hamas movement considered discussing a lawsuit filed to classify Hamas as a "terrorist movement" in an Egyptian court for several sessions most recently was last Wednesday, as a serious precedent that contradicts with national norms and principles. Hamas movement is a Palestinian national liberation movement that was established to fight against Israeli occupation within Palestinian territories, the movement's statement said, stressing its position of non-interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries.
Classifying Hamas as a "terrorist movement" came in compatibility with the Israeli classification of the movement, the statement added.
The movement expressed its surprise over discussing such a lawsuit in an Egyptian court. “We expected the nation's support for Palestinian resistance and not its prosecution”.
The movement warned of this serious and unjustified escalation against resistance and Hamas that only serves occupation.
Hamas called on Egypt to confront attempts to distort its historical positions in support of Palestinian resistance and struggle.
For his part, Abdul Sattar Qassem, a professor of political science at the Najah University in Nablus, stated that filing a lawsuit in Egyptian court to classify Hamas as a "terrorist movement" serves as credentials to Israel and the American administration.
He told PIC reporter that there is no evidence that proves Hamas' involvement in “violence or terrorism” activities in any Arab or Western countries.
Qassem confirmed that Hamas has only carried out operations against Israeli targets.
He stated that this lawsuit aims to tighten the unfair siege imposed on Gaza Strip and to increase the gap between the Palestinian and Egyptian peoples.
Classifying Hamas as a "terrorist movement" came in compatibility with the Israeli classification of the movement, the statement added.
The movement expressed its surprise over discussing such a lawsuit in an Egyptian court. “We expected the nation's support for Palestinian resistance and not its prosecution”.
The movement warned of this serious and unjustified escalation against resistance and Hamas that only serves occupation.
Hamas called on Egypt to confront attempts to distort its historical positions in support of Palestinian resistance and struggle.
For his part, Abdul Sattar Qassem, a professor of political science at the Najah University in Nablus, stated that filing a lawsuit in Egyptian court to classify Hamas as a "terrorist movement" serves as credentials to Israel and the American administration.
He told PIC reporter that there is no evidence that proves Hamas' involvement in “violence or terrorism” activities in any Arab or Western countries.
Qassem confirmed that Hamas has only carried out operations against Israeli targets.
He stated that this lawsuit aims to tighten the unfair siege imposed on Gaza Strip and to increase the gap between the Palestinian and Egyptian peoples.
2 mar 2014
The Palestinian Authority has called on Egypt to support efforts to improve conditions for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, an official said Sunday.
After meeting in Hebron with the families of hunger striking prisoners, PA Minister of Prisoners' Affairs Issa Qaraqe said he informed Egyptian officials of "the tragic conditions of prisoners, especially prisoners who are sick or on a hunger strike."
Qaraqe said he briefed the officials on Israel's violations of an Egyptian-sponsored agreement signed in May 2012 to improve living conditions in Israeli jails.
Akram Fseisi, Wahid Abu Maria, Muammar Banat, Aref Harbiyat, Ahmad Abu Ras, Ayman Tbeish and Kifah Hattab are currently on hunger strike in protest against being held in administrative detention without a trial. Hattab is also demanding to be recognized as prisoner of war as a part of his strike.
Some 5,200 Palestinians were being held in Israeli jails as of October 2013, according to the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs.
Since 1967, more than 650,000 Palestinians have been detained by Israel, representing 20 percent of the total population and 40 percent of all males in the occupied territories.
After meeting in Hebron with the families of hunger striking prisoners, PA Minister of Prisoners' Affairs Issa Qaraqe said he informed Egyptian officials of "the tragic conditions of prisoners, especially prisoners who are sick or on a hunger strike."
Qaraqe said he briefed the officials on Israel's violations of an Egyptian-sponsored agreement signed in May 2012 to improve living conditions in Israeli jails.
Akram Fseisi, Wahid Abu Maria, Muammar Banat, Aref Harbiyat, Ahmad Abu Ras, Ayman Tbeish and Kifah Hattab are currently on hunger strike in protest against being held in administrative detention without a trial. Hattab is also demanding to be recognized as prisoner of war as a part of his strike.
Some 5,200 Palestinians were being held in Israeli jails as of October 2013, according to the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs.
Since 1967, more than 650,000 Palestinians have been detained by Israel, representing 20 percent of the total population and 40 percent of all males in the occupied territories.
senior member of Fatah Azzam al-Ahmad
Hamas Movement on Sunday regretted the remarks of senior member of Fatah Azzam al-Ahmad accusing the movement of interfering in Egyptian affairs. The Islamic movement said in a statement that al-Ahmad 's comments are “opportunist” and demonstrate Fatah’s lack of credibility towards reconciliation.
It added that Fatah failed to commit to the reconciliation entitlement not ending political mudslinging against Hamas.
Ahmed told Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy during meetings on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2014 that his movement “reject the interference of Hamas or others in the internal Egyptian affairs,” according to Egyptian Youm7 publication.
Recently, the Egyptian authorities named 70 Palestinians in an indictment for interfering in Egyptian affairs
Hamas in return refuted in figures the accusations and condemned them as lies and fabrications.
Some of the Palestinians indicted passed a few years ago, others like Hamas leader Hassan Salameh was sentenced by Israel to life imprisonment in 1996.
While nearly half of them have never left outside Gaza, according to a statement issued in response to the Egyptian accusations.
Hamas Movement on Sunday regretted the remarks of senior member of Fatah Azzam al-Ahmad accusing the movement of interfering in Egyptian affairs. The Islamic movement said in a statement that al-Ahmad 's comments are “opportunist” and demonstrate Fatah’s lack of credibility towards reconciliation.
It added that Fatah failed to commit to the reconciliation entitlement not ending political mudslinging against Hamas.
Ahmed told Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy during meetings on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2014 that his movement “reject the interference of Hamas or others in the internal Egyptian affairs,” according to Egyptian Youm7 publication.
Recently, the Egyptian authorities named 70 Palestinians in an indictment for interfering in Egyptian affairs
Hamas in return refuted in figures the accusations and condemned them as lies and fabrications.
Some of the Palestinians indicted passed a few years ago, others like Hamas leader Hassan Salameh was sentenced by Israel to life imprisonment in 1996.
While nearly half of them have never left outside Gaza, according to a statement issued in response to the Egyptian accusations.
28 feb 2014
Former Lebanese minister of interior affairs Bishara Mirhij said that the way Egypt treats the resistance movement of Hamas does not serve its national security and urged Cairo to engage in a dialog with its officials in Gaza. "I believe that accusing the Hamas Movement of terrorism is something wrong and illegal, and it is not objective," Mirhij stated in press remarks to Quds Press.
"Egypt is a state that respects itself and knows well that Hamas is a real Palestinian movement, which has its stature and legitimacy, and if there are any differences with it, they must be solved through dialog," he added.
He also said that Hamas bears great responsibility in the Gaza Strip and it is keen on maintaining good relations with any regime in Egypt.
"I think that the relations that used to be between Morsi and Hamas were not directed against the Egyptian army and its territory," the Lebanese official stressed.
"Egypt is a state that respects itself and knows well that Hamas is a real Palestinian movement, which has its stature and legitimacy, and if there are any differences with it, they must be solved through dialog," he added.
He also said that Hamas bears great responsibility in the Gaza Strip and it is keen on maintaining good relations with any regime in Egypt.
"I think that the relations that used to be between Morsi and Hamas were not directed against the Egyptian army and its territory," the Lebanese official stressed.
The Hamas Movement strongly denounced an Egyptian court for intending to classify it as a terrorist group, saying that such illegal practices only serve Israel's attempts to criminalize resistance.
Its spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri expressed his movement's regret over Egyptian judiciary's involvement in a battle against Hamas and the resistance.
Egyptian court's lawsuit to classify Hamas as "a terrorist organization" is a political step that targets the Palestinian people and their resistance.
We cannot but express the deepest sense of regret at the level reached by Egyptian Judiciary, we thought that the filed lawsuit would be refused because the Egyptian Judiciary cannot prosecute non-Egyptian movements however it can trial any person who threatens Egyptian security, he said.
This lawsuit only serves the occupation that seeks to criminalize Egyptian resistance, he added, calling on Egyptian concerned court to refuse the filed lawsuit.
Egyptian court has postponed a lawsuit filed to recognize Hamas movement as a "terrorist organization" to the 4th of March amid a media incitement campaign against Hamas and resistance for allegedly supporting Muslim Brotherhood.
Its spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri expressed his movement's regret over Egyptian judiciary's involvement in a battle against Hamas and the resistance.
Egyptian court's lawsuit to classify Hamas as "a terrorist organization" is a political step that targets the Palestinian people and their resistance.
We cannot but express the deepest sense of regret at the level reached by Egyptian Judiciary, we thought that the filed lawsuit would be refused because the Egyptian Judiciary cannot prosecute non-Egyptian movements however it can trial any person who threatens Egyptian security, he said.
This lawsuit only serves the occupation that seeks to criminalize Egyptian resistance, he added, calling on Egyptian concerned court to refuse the filed lawsuit.
Egyptian court has postponed a lawsuit filed to recognize Hamas movement as a "terrorist organization" to the 4th of March amid a media incitement campaign against Hamas and resistance for allegedly supporting Muslim Brotherhood.
25 feb 2014
The Egyptian army on Tuesday afternoon bombed two homes in Egyptian Rafah city opposite to al-Salam neighborhood in southern Gaza Strip. Safa Press reported that Egyptian army destroyed two houses out of three implanted with bombs in the morning.
The Egyptian army bombed dozens of homes bordering Gaza strip since the deposition of President Mohamed Morsi on July 3rd, citing the presence of underground tunnels.
A military spokesman said earlier that the army destroyed about 1200 tunnels along the Egyptian-Palestinian border used by the Palestinian to smuggle basic items banned from access via the Israeli-controlled Karam Abu Salem crossing.
The 1.7 Gaza population has since been experiencing a severe shortage of construction materials.
The import of basic construction materials to Gaza has been severely restricted since the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip was effective in June 2007.
The Egyptian army bombed dozens of homes bordering Gaza strip since the deposition of President Mohamed Morsi on July 3rd, citing the presence of underground tunnels.
A military spokesman said earlier that the army destroyed about 1200 tunnels along the Egyptian-Palestinian border used by the Palestinian to smuggle basic items banned from access via the Israeli-controlled Karam Abu Salem crossing.
The 1.7 Gaza population has since been experiencing a severe shortage of construction materials.
The import of basic construction materials to Gaza has been severely restricted since the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip was effective in June 2007.
Egyptian authorities freed 13 Palestinians late Monday after six months in jail, a Gaza official said.
The men returned to their homes in the Gaza Strip after crossing the Rafah terminal, officials told Ma'an, without specifying why the men were detained.
Two of the detainees had special needs and were arrested by Egyptian authorities outside of the Palestinian embassy in Cairo three months ago.
The men returned to their homes in the Gaza Strip after crossing the Rafah terminal, officials told Ma'an, without specifying why the men were detained.
Two of the detainees had special needs and were arrested by Egyptian authorities outside of the Palestinian embassy in Cairo three months ago.
