4 feb 2015
Senior leader in Hamas Movement Mahmoud al-Zahhar said that the Egyptian regime’s attempts to export its internal crisis and security failure would not succeed.
Speaking to Arabi 24 website, Zahhar stated that the Egyptian regime works at hiding up facts on the ground through creating tensions between Gaza and Egypt and exporting the Egyptian crisis.
It is well known that Hamas has nothing to do with what is going on in Egypt, he clarified.
It is a failed attempt to create an imaginary enemy. The real enemy in the region is the Israeli occupation, he continued.
“We will not accept to be drawn into such issues.”
Due to its security failure in Sinai, the Egyptian regime held external parties the responsibility for the incidents, Zahhar said in reference to the Egyptian court’s ruling to blacklist al-Qassam Brigades especially that the latter has managed to withstand the Israeli invasion of Gaza and to inflict heavy losses in its lines.
Such a ruling came following a fierce incitement campaign waged against the Movement by Egyptian media outlets, he remarked.
On Tuesday, the Egyptian army deliberately opened fire at two locations of the Palestinian National Security on the southern borders with Egypt. Palestinian Ministry of Interior and National Security condemned the attack.
Speaking to Arabi 24 website, Zahhar stated that the Egyptian regime works at hiding up facts on the ground through creating tensions between Gaza and Egypt and exporting the Egyptian crisis.
It is well known that Hamas has nothing to do with what is going on in Egypt, he clarified.
It is a failed attempt to create an imaginary enemy. The real enemy in the region is the Israeli occupation, he continued.
“We will not accept to be drawn into such issues.”
Due to its security failure in Sinai, the Egyptian regime held external parties the responsibility for the incidents, Zahhar said in reference to the Egyptian court’s ruling to blacklist al-Qassam Brigades especially that the latter has managed to withstand the Israeli invasion of Gaza and to inflict heavy losses in its lines.
Such a ruling came following a fierce incitement campaign waged against the Movement by Egyptian media outlets, he remarked.
On Tuesday, the Egyptian army deliberately opened fire at two locations of the Palestinian National Security on the southern borders with Egypt. Palestinian Ministry of Interior and National Security condemned the attack.
3 feb 2015
Palestinian Ministry of Interior and National Security condemned on Tuesday the Egyptian army’s deliberate and direct firing at two locations of the Palestinian National Security on the southern borders with Egypt.
The Ministry’s spokesman Iyad al-Bezem said, in a press release posted to his Facebook page, the Ministry considers the action as a serious indication. Urgent investigation should be opened to bring to account those responsible for the shooting, he said.
The spokesman also said that the shooting was sudden and unjustified as there were no breaches from the Palestinian side. Meanwhile, official contacts are being made with the Egyptians to protest the aggression and to call for opening investigation, he added.
The Ministry’s spokesman Iyad al-Bezem said, in a press release posted to his Facebook page, the Ministry considers the action as a serious indication. Urgent investigation should be opened to bring to account those responsible for the shooting, he said.
The spokesman also said that the shooting was sudden and unjustified as there were no breaches from the Palestinian side. Meanwhile, official contacts are being made with the Egyptians to protest the aggression and to call for opening investigation, he added.
Senior Hamas official Mushir al-Masri said the Egyptian court verdict against the Palestinian resistance would never undermine the greatness and stature of al-Qassam Brigades in the hearts of the Arab and Muslim nations.
"Such politically-motivated and fragile decisions, and cheap trumpets do not have an effect on al-Qassam Brigades," Masri emphasized in a speech during a massive rally organized on Monday evening by the Hamas Movement in support of al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza.
He also condemned the court ruling as a "dangerous precedent that has never happened in the history of the Arab-Palestinian relations," expressing his surprise that an Arab court classified Hamas as a terrorist organization while a European court did the opposite.
The Hamas official expressed his belief that the Egyptian leadership was trying to make al-Qassam Brigades a scapegoat to convince the Egyptian street that it knew what was going on in the Sinai.
He highlighted that "the Palestinian resistance, spearheaded by al-Qassam Brigades, fights only the Israeli occupation in Palestine and has nothing to do with any events happening in the Egyptian territory."
The Hamas Movement started as of Monday to organize massive marches and rallies in support of its armed wing al-Qassam Brigades and in protest at the Egyptian court verdict against it.
Egypt's court ruling on al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas as a terrorist organization has received wide condemnation from Palestinian resistance factions and political figures, who hailed its struggle against the occupation and its national role in defending its people.
"Such politically-motivated and fragile decisions, and cheap trumpets do not have an effect on al-Qassam Brigades," Masri emphasized in a speech during a massive rally organized on Monday evening by the Hamas Movement in support of al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza.
He also condemned the court ruling as a "dangerous precedent that has never happened in the history of the Arab-Palestinian relations," expressing his surprise that an Arab court classified Hamas as a terrorist organization while a European court did the opposite.
The Hamas official expressed his belief that the Egyptian leadership was trying to make al-Qassam Brigades a scapegoat to convince the Egyptian street that it knew what was going on in the Sinai.
He highlighted that "the Palestinian resistance, spearheaded by al-Qassam Brigades, fights only the Israeli occupation in Palestine and has nothing to do with any events happening in the Egyptian territory."
The Hamas Movement started as of Monday to organize massive marches and rallies in support of its armed wing al-Qassam Brigades and in protest at the Egyptian court verdict against it.
Egypt's court ruling on al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas as a terrorist organization has received wide condemnation from Palestinian resistance factions and political figures, who hailed its struggle against the occupation and its national role in defending its people.
A joint statement, issued Monday by representatives of Hamas movement in Beirut and the Lebanese Amal movement, strongly condemned Egyptian court ruling against al-Qassam Brigades.
The statement stressed the Palestinian people’s right to resist occupation until the liberation and the return of Palestinian refugees.
In a meeting held Monday, both movements denounced Cairo Court of Urgent Matters' decision to designate the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, as a terrorist organization.
The meeting was attended by chairman of Amal's political bureau Haj Jamil Hayek and other members of the movement, along with Hamas's representative in Lebanon Ali Baraka and a number of the movement's political leaders.
Both parties discussed key regional and Palestinian developments and the Lebanese-Palestinian relations.
The two movements agreed to support resistance by all possible means against the occupation’s attacks.
The statement called on the Arab and Islamic Nation to focus on the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict, to support resistance by all means, and to defend Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
Both parties stressed the importance of reinforcing Palestinian-Lebanese relationship, maintaining security and stability in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, and rejecting all incitement attempts between the two peoples.
The statement also stressed the need to improve Palestinian refugees’ living conditions in Lebanon.
The meeting came as part of Hamas movement’s efforts to strengthen the Lebanese-Palestinian relations, and to improve the Palestinian refugees’ conditions in Lebanon.
The statement stressed the Palestinian people’s right to resist occupation until the liberation and the return of Palestinian refugees.
In a meeting held Monday, both movements denounced Cairo Court of Urgent Matters' decision to designate the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, as a terrorist organization.
The meeting was attended by chairman of Amal's political bureau Haj Jamil Hayek and other members of the movement, along with Hamas's representative in Lebanon Ali Baraka and a number of the movement's political leaders.
Both parties discussed key regional and Palestinian developments and the Lebanese-Palestinian relations.
The two movements agreed to support resistance by all possible means against the occupation’s attacks.
The statement called on the Arab and Islamic Nation to focus on the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict, to support resistance by all means, and to defend Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
Both parties stressed the importance of reinforcing Palestinian-Lebanese relationship, maintaining security and stability in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, and rejecting all incitement attempts between the two peoples.
The statement also stressed the need to improve Palestinian refugees’ living conditions in Lebanon.
The meeting came as part of Hamas movement’s efforts to strengthen the Lebanese-Palestinian relations, and to improve the Palestinian refugees’ conditions in Lebanon.
Member of Hamas's political bureau Mousa Abu Marzouk said that Egypt's instability can never be in his Movement's interest, stressing that the Gaza Strip is the first to be affected by the loss of security and stability in the Sinai.
In Facebook remarks on Monday, Abu Marzouk stated that Hamas and al-Qassam Brigades did not and would not intervene in any way in Egypt's internal affairs.
"To us, the Egyptian blood is as precious as the Palestinian blood, and al-Qassam Brigades' work is only directed against the occupation," the Hamas official said.
"The Gaza Strip is destined to be Palestine's gateway to Egypt and Egypt's gateway to Palestine, and everything good has always happened through this gate."
Arab Marzouk also underscored that all the accusations leveled against Hamas and its armed wing were only lies and fabrications based on no concrete evidence. "There is no one person from al-Qassam detained or killed [in Egypt]."
He pointed out that Egypt's court of urgent matters had already refused to look into a lawsuit filed against Israel over the 1970 Bahr el-Baqar massacre in Port Said at the pretext the case was outside its jurisdiction, so this court was also not competent in the first place to decide on any claim made against al-Qassam Brigades.
"How come today it has ruled on the resistance and al-Qassam Brigades, which has fought a war against the occupation for 51 days?" he questioned, warning that this court verdict would result in negative reflections on Egypt's role as a sponsor and on the Palestinian cause.
In Facebook remarks on Monday, Abu Marzouk stated that Hamas and al-Qassam Brigades did not and would not intervene in any way in Egypt's internal affairs.
"To us, the Egyptian blood is as precious as the Palestinian blood, and al-Qassam Brigades' work is only directed against the occupation," the Hamas official said.
"The Gaza Strip is destined to be Palestine's gateway to Egypt and Egypt's gateway to Palestine, and everything good has always happened through this gate."
Arab Marzouk also underscored that all the accusations leveled against Hamas and its armed wing were only lies and fabrications based on no concrete evidence. "There is no one person from al-Qassam detained or killed [in Egypt]."
He pointed out that Egypt's court of urgent matters had already refused to look into a lawsuit filed against Israel over the 1970 Bahr el-Baqar massacre in Port Said at the pretext the case was outside its jurisdiction, so this court was also not competent in the first place to decide on any claim made against al-Qassam Brigades.
"How come today it has ruled on the resistance and al-Qassam Brigades, which has fought a war against the occupation for 51 days?" he questioned, warning that this court verdict would result in negative reflections on Egypt's role as a sponsor and on the Palestinian cause.
The Egyptian court rule blacklisting Ezzedine al-Qassam Resistance Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, as a terror group is “politicized by excellence and has nothing to do with law,” Head of the Change and Reform Bloc, Mohamed Faraj al-Ghoul, said Monday.
“The decision violates the Arab joint defense pact that stipulates defending the Arab Nation,” he said. Ghoul further highlighted that “The Palestinian resistance is legitimate under international law.”
He cited one of the articles of the Arab pact as legitimizing armed resistance against foreign invasion and aggression as a means to restore peoples’ freedom and self-determination.
Ghoul spoke out against the state of confusion and hastiness with which the court rule was issued just a couple of weeks after another decision released by the same court declared it lacked appropriate jurisdiction to consider anti-Hamas lawsuits.
“We have to pay tribute to, rather than lashing out at, al-Qassam Brigades who stood their ground against the Israeli colonizer,” he said.
“Al-Qassam lies at the heart of every Egyptian, every Arab, and every Muslim. . . . It has always stood as the bulletproof vest for all Palestinians and Muslims. Such a biased decision should have never seen the day,” he added.
According to Ghoul, “the issue serves neither Egyptians’ nor Palestinians’ interests. It only fosters Israel’s schemes.”
The official urged Egypt to reconsider branding Hamas’s armed wing a terrorist organization, pointing out the previous constructive coordination between Egyptians and al-Qassam Brigades in setting the stage for the historic Wafa al-Ahrar prisoner swap deal
Senior Hamas official Basem Naim, meanwhile, called on Egypt to rescind the “injudicious” court rule.
“What is required of Egypt right now is to drop the decision so as to avoid any adverse retorts and to preserve Egypt’s role as a broker party in the Palestinian-Israeli truce talks,” Naim told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
He said such a “politicized” decision has come as a result of the incitement perpetrated by Egyptian media outlets.
He called for a firm Palestinian political stance to be adopted regarding the issue, vowing that Hamas will never give instigators any room to drag the group into a conflict with their Egyptian brothers and sisters.
“The decision violates the Arab joint defense pact that stipulates defending the Arab Nation,” he said. Ghoul further highlighted that “The Palestinian resistance is legitimate under international law.”
He cited one of the articles of the Arab pact as legitimizing armed resistance against foreign invasion and aggression as a means to restore peoples’ freedom and self-determination.
Ghoul spoke out against the state of confusion and hastiness with which the court rule was issued just a couple of weeks after another decision released by the same court declared it lacked appropriate jurisdiction to consider anti-Hamas lawsuits.
“We have to pay tribute to, rather than lashing out at, al-Qassam Brigades who stood their ground against the Israeli colonizer,” he said.
“Al-Qassam lies at the heart of every Egyptian, every Arab, and every Muslim. . . . It has always stood as the bulletproof vest for all Palestinians and Muslims. Such a biased decision should have never seen the day,” he added.
According to Ghoul, “the issue serves neither Egyptians’ nor Palestinians’ interests. It only fosters Israel’s schemes.”
The official urged Egypt to reconsider branding Hamas’s armed wing a terrorist organization, pointing out the previous constructive coordination between Egyptians and al-Qassam Brigades in setting the stage for the historic Wafa al-Ahrar prisoner swap deal
Senior Hamas official Basem Naim, meanwhile, called on Egypt to rescind the “injudicious” court rule.
“What is required of Egypt right now is to drop the decision so as to avoid any adverse retorts and to preserve Egypt’s role as a broker party in the Palestinian-Israeli truce talks,” Naim told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
He said such a “politicized” decision has come as a result of the incitement perpetrated by Egyptian media outlets.
He called for a firm Palestinian political stance to be adopted regarding the issue, vowing that Hamas will never give instigators any room to drag the group into a conflict with their Egyptian brothers and sisters.
2 feb 2015
By Khalid Amayreh in Occupied Palestine
The recent scandalous ruling by an Egyptian court to classify Hamas's resistance wing, the Izziddin al Qassam Brigades, as a "terrorist group" caricatures the pathetic state of affairs engulfing Egypt since the bloody military coup against the democratically elected President Muhammed Mursi took place in 2013.
Since then, everything in Egypt seems falling down. The economy is collapsing as Egypt is living on handouts from oil-rich Arab states apprehensive about possible challenges to their tribal entities by Sunni Islamic movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood (BM). The Egyptian currency is down the train as its exchange value continues its free fall, and the so-called justice system is in shambles as unfaithful judges are used as virtual rubber stamps to issue vindictive and draconian rulings against the regime's political opponents, particularly the Islamists.
However, the most immediate peril facing Egypt today is the seemingly relentless insurgency against the Sissi regime. Hundreds of mostly army personnel have been killed. In the restive Sinai Peninsula, deadly attacks on army installations and barracks now assume a daily frequency. A few days ago, at least 30 soldiers were killed in an attack claimed by insurgents loyal to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.
With frustration easily detected in the tone of his voice, Sissi has admitted the uphill task of beating the insurgents. He blamed the MB but without giving any credible evidence corroborating the accusation, made ad nauseam since the bloody coup.
Indeed, the Egyptian regime, apart from the rhetorical and spasmodic media propaganda against the MB, has failed to prove the Ikhwan's involvement in the spiraling violence.
Indeed, the Ikhwan themselves have strongly and consistently condemned the violence, including the latest attack in Sinai.
The increasingly conspicuous failure of the Sissi regime to quell the insurgency has apparently made the regime embark on a series of irrational decisions, including the demolition of thousands of houses on the Egyptian side of Rafah for the purpose of creating a security zone. The wanton and speedy demolitions, justified by the war-on-terror mantra, have generated a lot of indignation among the mostly impoverished affected populace who received a meager compensation for their homes and property.
The regime continued to give the impression that the insurgency originated outside Egypt, especially in the Gaza Strip across the borders.
However, exhaustive interrogations and investigations are yet to validate the regime's hypothesis about blaming Gaza's Palestinians.
A few months ago, a high-ranking delegation from Gaza met with Egyptian security officials. According to Hamas's veteran leader Mahmoud Zahhar, the Egyptians couldn't cite a single incident whereby Hamas's men were involved in any security breach in Sinai.
"We asked them to give us information that would indict any of Hamas individuals, and they told us they knew that Hamas was totally innocent of any wrongdoing," Zahhar said on al-Jazeera Saturday, 31 January.
Deflecting the crisis
Hamas has absolutely no interest in upsetting Egypt, its only conduit to the outside world. The Egyptian regime knows this fact very well.
Indeed, Hamas has taken meticulous measures to prevent infiltration into Sinai from the Gaza Strip.
Yet, hostile measures against the Islamist group by the Egyptian regime and its idiotic courts continued unabated.
This vindictive behavior on the part of the Egyptian regime shows that it is only trying to export its internal problems, having failed in every conceivable sphere. It also demonstrates that the murderous regime is seeking a certificate of good conduct from Israel by displaying blatant hostility against Israel's main Palestinian enemy.
The latest measure against one of the most glorious contemporary Islamic movements should be viewed in this context. It is simply an expression of the Egyptian regime's failure and frustration with regard to the insurgency.
Obscene lies
The obscene lies accusing Hamas's armed wing of involvement with the anti-Sissi insurgency underscores the moral and political bankruptcy of the Sissi junta. But there is no iota of surprise here.
After all, we are talking about a regime that murdered thousands of Egyptian protesters and then had the audacity to claim that the victims killed themselves.
We are talking about a regime that instructs its police thugs, also known as Baltagiya, to rape women protesters as punishment and deterrence. And when some of the women try to file a complaint against the police, the police subject the women to the degrading measure known as "the virginity test."
Today, the Sissi regime has transformed Egypt from a great country with the weight of 90 million people into an insignificant country with the weight of a whore.
The new king of Saudi Arabia, King Salman, has apparently reached this conclusion.
We are hopeful that the new Saudi leadership will make it abundantly clear for the Sissi junta that Egypt's problem is not with the Palestinians across the borders but lies elsewhere.
But the hostility against Hamas does take Egypt into the sphere of ignominy. This is because it puts the Sissi regime on equal footing with Israel, which for long humiliated Egypt and murdered thousands of Egyptians.
Indeed, Hamas, which stood up alone to the Nazi-like Israeli war machine for 52 days while the strongest Arab army was watching passively from across the border deserves respect and admiration, not defamation and condemnation.
But then we are living in an era in which traitors hold the reins. This reminds us of Shawar, the infamous Fatemi ruler who collaborated with the invading Crusaders against the famous Muslim general Salahuddin al-Ayyoubi.
Who says history doesn't repeat itself.
The recent scandalous ruling by an Egyptian court to classify Hamas's resistance wing, the Izziddin al Qassam Brigades, as a "terrorist group" caricatures the pathetic state of affairs engulfing Egypt since the bloody military coup against the democratically elected President Muhammed Mursi took place in 2013.
Since then, everything in Egypt seems falling down. The economy is collapsing as Egypt is living on handouts from oil-rich Arab states apprehensive about possible challenges to their tribal entities by Sunni Islamic movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood (BM). The Egyptian currency is down the train as its exchange value continues its free fall, and the so-called justice system is in shambles as unfaithful judges are used as virtual rubber stamps to issue vindictive and draconian rulings against the regime's political opponents, particularly the Islamists.
However, the most immediate peril facing Egypt today is the seemingly relentless insurgency against the Sissi regime. Hundreds of mostly army personnel have been killed. In the restive Sinai Peninsula, deadly attacks on army installations and barracks now assume a daily frequency. A few days ago, at least 30 soldiers were killed in an attack claimed by insurgents loyal to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.
With frustration easily detected in the tone of his voice, Sissi has admitted the uphill task of beating the insurgents. He blamed the MB but without giving any credible evidence corroborating the accusation, made ad nauseam since the bloody coup.
Indeed, the Egyptian regime, apart from the rhetorical and spasmodic media propaganda against the MB, has failed to prove the Ikhwan's involvement in the spiraling violence.
Indeed, the Ikhwan themselves have strongly and consistently condemned the violence, including the latest attack in Sinai.
The increasingly conspicuous failure of the Sissi regime to quell the insurgency has apparently made the regime embark on a series of irrational decisions, including the demolition of thousands of houses on the Egyptian side of Rafah for the purpose of creating a security zone. The wanton and speedy demolitions, justified by the war-on-terror mantra, have generated a lot of indignation among the mostly impoverished affected populace who received a meager compensation for their homes and property.
The regime continued to give the impression that the insurgency originated outside Egypt, especially in the Gaza Strip across the borders.
However, exhaustive interrogations and investigations are yet to validate the regime's hypothesis about blaming Gaza's Palestinians.
A few months ago, a high-ranking delegation from Gaza met with Egyptian security officials. According to Hamas's veteran leader Mahmoud Zahhar, the Egyptians couldn't cite a single incident whereby Hamas's men were involved in any security breach in Sinai.
"We asked them to give us information that would indict any of Hamas individuals, and they told us they knew that Hamas was totally innocent of any wrongdoing," Zahhar said on al-Jazeera Saturday, 31 January.
Deflecting the crisis
Hamas has absolutely no interest in upsetting Egypt, its only conduit to the outside world. The Egyptian regime knows this fact very well.
Indeed, Hamas has taken meticulous measures to prevent infiltration into Sinai from the Gaza Strip.
Yet, hostile measures against the Islamist group by the Egyptian regime and its idiotic courts continued unabated.
This vindictive behavior on the part of the Egyptian regime shows that it is only trying to export its internal problems, having failed in every conceivable sphere. It also demonstrates that the murderous regime is seeking a certificate of good conduct from Israel by displaying blatant hostility against Israel's main Palestinian enemy.
The latest measure against one of the most glorious contemporary Islamic movements should be viewed in this context. It is simply an expression of the Egyptian regime's failure and frustration with regard to the insurgency.
Obscene lies
The obscene lies accusing Hamas's armed wing of involvement with the anti-Sissi insurgency underscores the moral and political bankruptcy of the Sissi junta. But there is no iota of surprise here.
After all, we are talking about a regime that murdered thousands of Egyptian protesters and then had the audacity to claim that the victims killed themselves.
We are talking about a regime that instructs its police thugs, also known as Baltagiya, to rape women protesters as punishment and deterrence. And when some of the women try to file a complaint against the police, the police subject the women to the degrading measure known as "the virginity test."
Today, the Sissi regime has transformed Egypt from a great country with the weight of 90 million people into an insignificant country with the weight of a whore.
The new king of Saudi Arabia, King Salman, has apparently reached this conclusion.
We are hopeful that the new Saudi leadership will make it abundantly clear for the Sissi junta that Egypt's problem is not with the Palestinians across the borders but lies elsewhere.
But the hostility against Hamas does take Egypt into the sphere of ignominy. This is because it puts the Sissi regime on equal footing with Israel, which for long humiliated Egypt and murdered thousands of Egyptians.
Indeed, Hamas, which stood up alone to the Nazi-like Israeli war machine for 52 days while the strongest Arab army was watching passively from across the border deserves respect and admiration, not defamation and condemnation.
But then we are living in an era in which traitors hold the reins. This reminds us of Shawar, the infamous Fatemi ruler who collaborated with the invading Crusaders against the famous Muslim general Salahuddin al-Ayyoubi.
Who says history doesn't repeat itself.
Senior leader in Hamas Movement Mahmoud al-Zahhar described the Egyptian court’s ruling to designate al-Qassam Brigades as a terrorist organization as contradictory, humiliating, and shameful.
Speaking to al-Jazeera TV Channel on Sunday evening, Zahhar pointed out that a top Egyptian official concerned with Palestinian file confirmed during a meeting with a senior Hamas delegation last September that the Movement has nothing to do with what is happening in Egypt.
The top Egyptian official vowed during the meeting to enhance border security and put an end to media incitement against the Movement.
In the same context, Palestinian national and Islamic forces expressed shock over the Egyptian recent ruling to list Hamas’s armed wing as a terrorist organization.
"We strongly condemn this hasty decision against a resistance wing that fights a liberation battle against the occupation", the Palestinian national and Islamic forces said in a statement issued Sunday evening.
The statement stressed the importance of the Egyptian role in the liberation battle till restoring Palestinian land from the Israeli enemy.
The statement also called on Egyptian authorities to re-consider “this hasty decision” and to stop the media incitement campaign that aims to destroy the relationship between Egyptian and Palestinian people.
The Cairo Court of Urgent Matters ruled on Saturday to designate the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, as a terrorist organization.
Speaking to al-Jazeera TV Channel on Sunday evening, Zahhar pointed out that a top Egyptian official concerned with Palestinian file confirmed during a meeting with a senior Hamas delegation last September that the Movement has nothing to do with what is happening in Egypt.
The top Egyptian official vowed during the meeting to enhance border security and put an end to media incitement against the Movement.
In the same context, Palestinian national and Islamic forces expressed shock over the Egyptian recent ruling to list Hamas’s armed wing as a terrorist organization.
"We strongly condemn this hasty decision against a resistance wing that fights a liberation battle against the occupation", the Palestinian national and Islamic forces said in a statement issued Sunday evening.
The statement stressed the importance of the Egyptian role in the liberation battle till restoring Palestinian land from the Israeli enemy.
The statement also called on Egyptian authorities to re-consider “this hasty decision” and to stop the media incitement campaign that aims to destroy the relationship between Egyptian and Palestinian people.
The Cairo Court of Urgent Matters ruled on Saturday to designate the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, as a terrorist organization.
1 feb 2015
Zaid 9
Four killed, 470 abducted by Israeli forces in January
A 9-year-old Palestinian boy named Zaid has died, according to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency, after Egypt and Israel refused to open the Rafah border crossing to allow him to travel for medical treatment.
Though the details of the boy's ailment are unclear at the time of this report, a Palestinian activist wrote on his Facebook page: "The poor boy died with tears rolling down his cheek."
With Egpyt's backing, Rafah crossing has been seized by Israel for nearly a decade, now, in mutual disregard of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israeli forces, this past August.
In related news, Al Ray reports that Israeli forces killed four Palestinians and detained 470 from the occupied West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza, according to Ahrar Center for Detainees Studies and Human Rights.
The Center revealed a statistic naming Ahmed al-Najaar, age19, from Burin (southern Nablus), Osamah Abu Jindiah, age 17 (directly shot), Sami al-Ziyadnah, age 42 (from Rahat) and Sami al-Ja'ar, age 21, from Hebron (died of tear gas), as having been killed this past January.
Ahrar's studies also showed that 467, of whom 40 are children, were abducted from the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.
It also documented the detention of 26 women, most of whom are from Jerusalem. Ahrar noted that they were later released, after being interrogated by Israeli police.
In addition, Israeli forces detained three journalists from the West Bank, and are identified as Alaa' Teiti, correspondent for Al-Aqsa TV, Mujahed Mufleh, who works with Huna al-Quds Press, and journalist A'mer Hlail.
The report also showed that Jerusalem has witnessed some 173 Palestinians detained. The second highest number of detainees came out of Hebron (140). In Ramallah, 66 Palestinians were taken, 53 in Nablus, 47 in Bethlehem, 42 in Jenin, 27 in Qalqiliah, 15 in Tulkarem, six in Salfit and 3 in Tubas.
Ahrar noted, as well, that 21 Palestinians were detained in the Gaza Strip, some of whom are businessmen, at Erez crossing. A number of fishermen were also taken from Gaza.
Four killed, 470 abducted by Israeli forces in January
A 9-year-old Palestinian boy named Zaid has died, according to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency, after Egypt and Israel refused to open the Rafah border crossing to allow him to travel for medical treatment.
Though the details of the boy's ailment are unclear at the time of this report, a Palestinian activist wrote on his Facebook page: "The poor boy died with tears rolling down his cheek."
With Egpyt's backing, Rafah crossing has been seized by Israel for nearly a decade, now, in mutual disregard of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israeli forces, this past August.
In related news, Al Ray reports that Israeli forces killed four Palestinians and detained 470 from the occupied West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza, according to Ahrar Center for Detainees Studies and Human Rights.
The Center revealed a statistic naming Ahmed al-Najaar, age19, from Burin (southern Nablus), Osamah Abu Jindiah, age 17 (directly shot), Sami al-Ziyadnah, age 42 (from Rahat) and Sami al-Ja'ar, age 21, from Hebron (died of tear gas), as having been killed this past January.
Ahrar's studies also showed that 467, of whom 40 are children, were abducted from the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.
It also documented the detention of 26 women, most of whom are from Jerusalem. Ahrar noted that they were later released, after being interrogated by Israeli police.
In addition, Israeli forces detained three journalists from the West Bank, and are identified as Alaa' Teiti, correspondent for Al-Aqsa TV, Mujahed Mufleh, who works with Huna al-Quds Press, and journalist A'mer Hlail.
The report also showed that Jerusalem has witnessed some 173 Palestinians detained. The second highest number of detainees came out of Hebron (140). In Ramallah, 66 Palestinians were taken, 53 in Nablus, 47 in Bethlehem, 42 in Jenin, 27 in Qalqiliah, 15 in Tulkarem, six in Salfit and 3 in Tubas.
Ahrar noted, as well, that 21 Palestinians were detained in the Gaza Strip, some of whom are businessmen, at Erez crossing. A number of fishermen were also taken from Gaza.
Dr. Ahmad Bahar, the first deputy speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, confirmed that the Cairo Court of Urgent Matters ruling to designate the Ezzuddin al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, a terrorist organization has no legal value.
Dr. Ahmad Bahar said, in a statement on Sunday, the ruling runs contrary to the simplest principles of the international law which legitimizes resisting occupation. It also breaches the international humanitarian law, which perceives resistance as a legitimate right for the occupied peoples.
Bahar described the ruling as politicized and ran contrary to the Egyptian laws. He called on the Egyptian authorities to cancel the ruling immediately for being offensive to the Egyptian-Palestinian relationship and substantially affects its future.
The deputy speaker pointed out that the Egyptian court’s verdict is consistent with the plans of the Israeli occupation which has waged wars against Ezzuddin al-Qassam Brigades as well as resistance factions over the past years.
He pointed out, however, that the ruling will not affect the resistance spirit of the Brigades members who will continue to resist occupation until victory and the liberation of Palestine.
Bahar stressed that Ezzuddin al-Qassam Brigades must be honored for fighting against the Israeli occupation and resisting the Zionist project, which targets the entire Arab Nation.
The Hamas leader advised the Egyptian authorities to rather condemn the Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people.
The Egyptian authorities should rather support the policies aiming to hold Israel accountable before international courts, especially for the crimes committed during the latest aggression on Gaza, Bahar noted.
Dr. Ahmad Bahar said, in a statement on Sunday, the ruling runs contrary to the simplest principles of the international law which legitimizes resisting occupation. It also breaches the international humanitarian law, which perceives resistance as a legitimate right for the occupied peoples.
Bahar described the ruling as politicized and ran contrary to the Egyptian laws. He called on the Egyptian authorities to cancel the ruling immediately for being offensive to the Egyptian-Palestinian relationship and substantially affects its future.
The deputy speaker pointed out that the Egyptian court’s verdict is consistent with the plans of the Israeli occupation which has waged wars against Ezzuddin al-Qassam Brigades as well as resistance factions over the past years.
He pointed out, however, that the ruling will not affect the resistance spirit of the Brigades members who will continue to resist occupation until victory and the liberation of Palestine.
Bahar stressed that Ezzuddin al-Qassam Brigades must be honored for fighting against the Israeli occupation and resisting the Zionist project, which targets the entire Arab Nation.
The Hamas leader advised the Egyptian authorities to rather condemn the Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people.
The Egyptian authorities should rather support the policies aiming to hold Israel accountable before international courts, especially for the crimes committed during the latest aggression on Gaza, Bahar noted.
Hamas denied recent allegations that the group might have ruled out Egypt as a mediator following an Egyptian court’s decision blacklisting Hamas’s armed wing as a terror group.
“No stance or statement has been released by Hamas regarding the group’s rebuff of Egypt’s role as a mediator in the Palestinian-Israeli truce talks,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told the Anadolu News Agency.
“What has been propagated by media outlets on Hamas’s dismissal of Egypt’s roe as a broker party with the Israeli occupation is just groundless,” he said.
“We’ve only voiced disapproval over the politicized court’s decision,” he added.
An Egyptian-brokered truce accord signed in August signaled the end of a 51-day Israeli offensive on blockaded Gaza that had killed over 2,000 Palestinians and left some 11,000 others wounded.
An Egyptian court Saturday issued a decision blacklisting Hamas’s armed wing as a terror group.
“No stance or statement has been released by Hamas regarding the group’s rebuff of Egypt’s role as a mediator in the Palestinian-Israeli truce talks,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told the Anadolu News Agency.
“What has been propagated by media outlets on Hamas’s dismissal of Egypt’s roe as a broker party with the Israeli occupation is just groundless,” he said.
“We’ve only voiced disapproval over the politicized court’s decision,” he added.
An Egyptian-brokered truce accord signed in August signaled the end of a 51-day Israeli offensive on blockaded Gaza that had killed over 2,000 Palestinians and left some 11,000 others wounded.
An Egyptian court Saturday issued a decision blacklisting Hamas’s armed wing as a terror group.
