2 mar 2015
The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry, called Monday on Israel and Egypt to change their failed policies and adopt a ‘Gaza first’ strategy.”
Following his two-day visit to Gaza, Serry said in a statement that “Gaza is a political problem which must be addressed as part of ending the occupation and achieving a two-state solution.”
“I am convinced that there can be no peace without addressing Gaza’s needs first,” he underlined.
“I urgently call on all stakeholders, including… Palestinian factions, Israel, Egypt, the international community and donors, to change their failed policies and adopt a ‘Gaza first’ strategy.”
Moreover, Serry continued, the ongoing blockade of the Gaza Strip had rendered the area “more isolated than ever” due to the many restrictions still in place at Israeli crossings and with the Rafah crossing “practically closed.”
“We, in the UN, have always been in the forefront in calling for an end to the blockade as a prerequisite for a stable, functioning economy in Gaza. You also cannot have a stable, functioning economy without a more durable ceasefire and a recognized, legitimate and inclusive government leading Gaza’s recovery.”
The Egyptian army decided to close the Rafah crossing, Gaza's only terminal to the outside world, and to demolish the underground tunnels along the border since the ouster of the freely elected president Mohamed Morsi on early July 2013.
Serry, whose seven-year mandate is set to expire shortly, said he was encouraged that “some progress” towards the reconstruction of Gaza was being made but still lamented the “overall slow pace” of rebuilding.
“To date, over 72,000 people have been cleared to receive construction material… and around 55,000 have actually purchased material to rebuild their homes.”
“I fully understand the frustration of the people in Gaza,” the Special Coordinator declared. “Many of those who now have access to building materials lack the money to buy them or to carry out the works.”
He noted that only a small percentage of the $5.4 billion pledged at the Cairo Reconstruction Conference last October had been disbursed.
According to a recent UN assessment, as it stands now, over 100,000 homes were damaged or destroyed in Gaza during last summer’s 51-day Israel war on the blockaded Strip. The destruction affected more than 600,000 people and many still lack access to the municipal water network. Meanwhile, blackouts of up to 18 hours per day are common.
Following his two-day visit to Gaza, Serry said in a statement that “Gaza is a political problem which must be addressed as part of ending the occupation and achieving a two-state solution.”
“I am convinced that there can be no peace without addressing Gaza’s needs first,” he underlined.
“I urgently call on all stakeholders, including… Palestinian factions, Israel, Egypt, the international community and donors, to change their failed policies and adopt a ‘Gaza first’ strategy.”
Moreover, Serry continued, the ongoing blockade of the Gaza Strip had rendered the area “more isolated than ever” due to the many restrictions still in place at Israeli crossings and with the Rafah crossing “practically closed.”
“We, in the UN, have always been in the forefront in calling for an end to the blockade as a prerequisite for a stable, functioning economy in Gaza. You also cannot have a stable, functioning economy without a more durable ceasefire and a recognized, legitimate and inclusive government leading Gaza’s recovery.”
The Egyptian army decided to close the Rafah crossing, Gaza's only terminal to the outside world, and to demolish the underground tunnels along the border since the ouster of the freely elected president Mohamed Morsi on early July 2013.
Serry, whose seven-year mandate is set to expire shortly, said he was encouraged that “some progress” towards the reconstruction of Gaza was being made but still lamented the “overall slow pace” of rebuilding.
“To date, over 72,000 people have been cleared to receive construction material… and around 55,000 have actually purchased material to rebuild their homes.”
“I fully understand the frustration of the people in Gaza,” the Special Coordinator declared. “Many of those who now have access to building materials lack the money to buy them or to carry out the works.”
He noted that only a small percentage of the $5.4 billion pledged at the Cairo Reconstruction Conference last October had been disbursed.
According to a recent UN assessment, as it stands now, over 100,000 homes were damaged or destroyed in Gaza during last summer’s 51-day Israel war on the blockaded Strip. The destruction affected more than 600,000 people and many still lack access to the municipal water network. Meanwhile, blackouts of up to 18 hours per day are common.
Dr. Ahmad Bahar, the first deputy speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), charged that the Cairo Court of Urgent Matters ruling to designate the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, a terrorist organization is politicized.
“The ruling is null and void. It declares war against the Palestinian people and stands by the side of its enemy”, Bahar said in a press conference on Monday.
He held the Egyptian regime responsible for all the political, social and legal consequences resulting from the Egyptian court verdict.
“It offers the Israeli occupation a free service, giving it a green light to commit more crimes of murder and genocide. It also constitutes a justification for all the Israeli previous crimes against Palestinians”, he said.
“The ruling runs contrary to the international law, the diplomatic law and the principles of international relations. It breaches both charters of the United Nations and the Arab League”, he underlined.
Dr. Bahar said the ruling is an offence to the Egyptian-Palestinian relations since Egypt has been sponsoring the Palestinian question over the past years.
“The ruling is null and void. It declares war against the Palestinian people and stands by the side of its enemy”, Bahar said in a press conference on Monday.
He held the Egyptian regime responsible for all the political, social and legal consequences resulting from the Egyptian court verdict.
“It offers the Israeli occupation a free service, giving it a green light to commit more crimes of murder and genocide. It also constitutes a justification for all the Israeli previous crimes against Palestinians”, he said.
“The ruling runs contrary to the international law, the diplomatic law and the principles of international relations. It breaches both charters of the United Nations and the Arab League”, he underlined.
Dr. Bahar said the ruling is an offence to the Egyptian-Palestinian relations since Egypt has been sponsoring the Palestinian question over the past years.
The Iranian foreign ministry criticized on Sunday an Egyptian court ruling designating Hamas as terrorist groups, stressing that resistance is by no means terrorism, the Iranian News Agency reported.
"Hamas is not a terrorist organization, (rather) Tel Aviv is an illegitimate and terrorist regime," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian said on Sunday.
His remarks came after an Egyptian court branded the Palestinian Hamas resistance group a "terrorist" organization.
For his part, head of Euro-Pal Forum Zaher Birawi stressed the urgent need for an Arab intervention to put an end to the growing incitement against Palestinian resistance that is meant to carry out an Egyptian military operation in Gaza.
During press statements, Birawi said that the Egyptian ruling over Hamas, the largest political party in the Palestinian political arena that won with a 60% majority in fair and transparent legislative elections, aims to justify a military strike against Gaza in service of the Israeli project.
Commenting on the same issue, the Israeli writer Avi Issacharoff has considered the Egyptian court’s decision Saturday to define Hamas as a terror group as Cairo’s declaration of war on Hamas.
In his article published in the Times of Israel paper, Issacharoff wrote that Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi is proving that "there is only one leader in the Middle East who can be compared to Winston Churchill, and he sits in Cairo".
"With Sissi, it’s not just talk. It’s action too. He has declared war upon radical Islam wherever it may be not only upon the Islamic State and its affiliates, but on the Muslim Brotherhood and its affiliates as well".
Many months ago, the president set out on a wide-scale military operation in the Sinai Peninsula to fight, what the Israeli writer called, terrorism and to protect Israel.
"Hamas is not a terrorist organization, (rather) Tel Aviv is an illegitimate and terrorist regime," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian said on Sunday.
His remarks came after an Egyptian court branded the Palestinian Hamas resistance group a "terrorist" organization.
For his part, head of Euro-Pal Forum Zaher Birawi stressed the urgent need for an Arab intervention to put an end to the growing incitement against Palestinian resistance that is meant to carry out an Egyptian military operation in Gaza.
During press statements, Birawi said that the Egyptian ruling over Hamas, the largest political party in the Palestinian political arena that won with a 60% majority in fair and transparent legislative elections, aims to justify a military strike against Gaza in service of the Israeli project.
Commenting on the same issue, the Israeli writer Avi Issacharoff has considered the Egyptian court’s decision Saturday to define Hamas as a terror group as Cairo’s declaration of war on Hamas.
In his article published in the Times of Israel paper, Issacharoff wrote that Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi is proving that "there is only one leader in the Middle East who can be compared to Winston Churchill, and he sits in Cairo".
"With Sissi, it’s not just talk. It’s action too. He has declared war upon radical Islam wherever it may be not only upon the Islamic State and its affiliates, but on the Muslim Brotherhood and its affiliates as well".
Many months ago, the president set out on a wide-scale military operation in the Sinai Peninsula to fight, what the Israeli writer called, terrorism and to protect Israel.
Thousands of Palestinians took to Rafah streets, in southern Gaza, on Sunday evening, voicing firm rebuff and deep disappointment over Egypt’s blacklisting of Hamas as a terrorist group.
The rally-goers lifted Palestinian flags and chanted slogans slamming the Egyptian court ruling.
“Hamas is not a terrorist group,” “Hamas is our nation’s honor,” and “We sacrifice our blood and soul for your sake (Hamas)” were all slogans chanted by the pro-Hamas demonstrators.
Speaking at the end of the rally, the Hamas leader Saadi al-Maghari lashed out at the Egyptian court verdict, branding it “a stab in the back of the Palestinian people and resistance.”
He reiterated the group’s firm belief in the policy of non-interference regarding the internal affairs of Egypt and all other states.
“Hamas is exercising a legitimate fight against the Israeli occupation,” he said, adding: “The real terrorist is the one who is blockading Gaza, denying its sick passengers access out of the besieged Strip, and obstructing the reconstruction of its civilian family homes.”
“The real terrorist is the one who bombs our people at will, knowing that they have no place to run to or to hide into; the one who misappropriates our lands and vandalizes our holy shrines,” he maintained.
“What a shame!” al-Maghari yelled. “But such a bunch of charlatans and profiteers will never dash our hopes. . . . History shall throw them in its garbage dumps.”
The rally-goers lifted Palestinian flags and chanted slogans slamming the Egyptian court ruling.
“Hamas is not a terrorist group,” “Hamas is our nation’s honor,” and “We sacrifice our blood and soul for your sake (Hamas)” were all slogans chanted by the pro-Hamas demonstrators.
Speaking at the end of the rally, the Hamas leader Saadi al-Maghari lashed out at the Egyptian court verdict, branding it “a stab in the back of the Palestinian people and resistance.”
He reiterated the group’s firm belief in the policy of non-interference regarding the internal affairs of Egypt and all other states.
“Hamas is exercising a legitimate fight against the Israeli occupation,” he said, adding: “The real terrorist is the one who is blockading Gaza, denying its sick passengers access out of the besieged Strip, and obstructing the reconstruction of its civilian family homes.”
“The real terrorist is the one who bombs our people at will, knowing that they have no place to run to or to hide into; the one who misappropriates our lands and vandalizes our holy shrines,” he maintained.
“What a shame!” al-Maghari yelled. “But such a bunch of charlatans and profiteers will never dash our hopes. . . . History shall throw them in its garbage dumps.”
Senior Hamas official Salah al-Bardawil said that the Palestinian people would not allow the Egyptian regime to harm their children and would resist it as an enemy.
Bardawil made his remarks during a massive march organized in Khan Younis on Sunday to protest an Egyptian court verdict labeling the Hamas Movement a terrorist organization.
"Anyone who dares to hurt a fingernail of a Palestinian child, we will resist him as we have done with the enemy," Bardawil emphasized.
The Hamas official lashed out at the Egyptian regime by saying that its court decision was not surprising after it dared to kill its own people and destroy their mosques and homes.
"What is consoling us is our confidence in the position of the Egyptian people and their support for the resistance," he said.
In another context, senior commander of al-Qassam Brigades Marwan Issa participated unexpectedly in an academic conference held yesterday at Rabat University College in Gaza under the theme "Palestine…motives of the occupation and factors of the victory."
In his speech, Issa said that all regional and international attempts to blockade Hamas and its armed wing would be doomed to failure, affirming that al-Qassam Brigades enjoys faith, potential, and determination that enable it to continue its path until the end.
"We understand the reality and its complications, but we cannot surrender to it," al-Qassam leader stated.
"We are not seeking a confrontation with the Israeli occupation, but we are working on doubling our strength for any coming fight. We continue to make rockets without paying attention to the enemy's statements in this regard," he underlined.
Bardawil made his remarks during a massive march organized in Khan Younis on Sunday to protest an Egyptian court verdict labeling the Hamas Movement a terrorist organization.
"Anyone who dares to hurt a fingernail of a Palestinian child, we will resist him as we have done with the enemy," Bardawil emphasized.
The Hamas official lashed out at the Egyptian regime by saying that its court decision was not surprising after it dared to kill its own people and destroy their mosques and homes.
"What is consoling us is our confidence in the position of the Egyptian people and their support for the resistance," he said.
In another context, senior commander of al-Qassam Brigades Marwan Issa participated unexpectedly in an academic conference held yesterday at Rabat University College in Gaza under the theme "Palestine…motives of the occupation and factors of the victory."
In his speech, Issa said that all regional and international attempts to blockade Hamas and its armed wing would be doomed to failure, affirming that al-Qassam Brigades enjoys faith, potential, and determination that enable it to continue its path until the end.
"We understand the reality and its complications, but we cannot surrender to it," al-Qassam leader stated.
"We are not seeking a confrontation with the Israeli occupation, but we are working on doubling our strength for any coming fight. We continue to make rockets without paying attention to the enemy's statements in this regard," he underlined.
A delegation of Jihad Movement, headed by its Secretary-General Ramadan Shallah, has arrived in Cairo Saturday and met with the senior leader in Hamas Movement Mousa Abu Marzouk, who is currently based in Egypt.
The PIC learnt that the meeting has dealt with the distinguished bilateral relations between the two movements, the Palestinian reconciliation, and the opening of Rafah crossing to alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s people.
The two parties have also discussed the Palestinian-Egyptian relations and the relationship between Hamas and Egypt in particular.
The Jihad delegation on Sunday met with Egyptian Intelligence Minister and senior officials of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service, which oversees the Palestinian file.
The meeting tackled, among other things, the strained relations between Cairo and Hamas.
The PIC learnt that the meeting has dealt with the distinguished bilateral relations between the two movements, the Palestinian reconciliation, and the opening of Rafah crossing to alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s people.
The two parties have also discussed the Palestinian-Egyptian relations and the relationship between Hamas and Egypt in particular.
The Jihad delegation on Sunday met with Egyptian Intelligence Minister and senior officials of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service, which oversees the Palestinian file.
The meeting tackled, among other things, the strained relations between Cairo and Hamas.
The Egyptian court ruling blacklisting Hamas as terrorist is a political decision and has no connection, whatsoever, to the jurisdiction of Cairo’s urgent matters court, senior Hamas leader, Mousa Abu Marzouk, said Sunday.
Abu Marzouk slammed, in statements posted on his Facebook page, the court issue, saying it does not represent the standpoint of thousands of Egyptian lawyers who voiced firm objection to the verdict.
A series of anti-Hamas rulings has been issued by the same court and its various departments, calling for banning Hamas’s activities in Egypt, seizing the group’s properties, and blacklisting its armed wing as a terror organization.
The same court has turned down appeals to address a similar lawsuit filed against Israel under the pretext that it does not fall within its jurisdiction, Abu Marzouk added.
“The decision does not only nourish the whims of the Israeli occupation but also, and above all, sets the stage for Israeli intents to instigate Egypt to hit Gaza,” he further warned.
“The future of the Palestinian cause lies in the very arsenal and agenda of the Palestinian resistance,” he stated, adding that “despite all, Hamas has never meddled in the Arab or Egyptian internal affairs.”
Spokesperson for the popular resistance committees in Gaza, Abu Mujahed, said, meanwhile, the Egyptian ruling comes to tighten the noose already tightened around Palestinians’ necks.
“Every Egyptian wise person has to condemn the decision. We know very well that it does not, in any possible way, reflect the positions of our Egyptian brothers and sisters who have always stood by the Palestinian resistance. The decision shall very soon turn against its makers,” Abu Mujahed confirmed in his exclusive statements to the PIC.
Deputy head of the Islamic Movement in 1948 Occupied Palestine, Sheikh Kamal al-Khatib, slammed, in an exclusive interview with the PIC, the Egyptian verdict, branding it a move that ran contrary to rationale.
“The court ruling is obviously in keeping with Israel’s anti-Hamas position,” he said, adding: “Instead of backing up Gaza in its struggle against the Israeli occupation and the tough blockade, Egypt has stabbed us in the back and collaborated with our enemy against us.”
“The verdict proves that the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority has given a green light to all ad hominem campaigns against Hamas and the Palestinian resistance. This is a shame and a scar on the face of every conniver against Palestinians,” he stated.
Earlier on Saturday, the Egyptian court of urgent matters designated Hamas as a "terrorist" organization.
Abu Marzouk slammed, in statements posted on his Facebook page, the court issue, saying it does not represent the standpoint of thousands of Egyptian lawyers who voiced firm objection to the verdict.
A series of anti-Hamas rulings has been issued by the same court and its various departments, calling for banning Hamas’s activities in Egypt, seizing the group’s properties, and blacklisting its armed wing as a terror organization.
The same court has turned down appeals to address a similar lawsuit filed against Israel under the pretext that it does not fall within its jurisdiction, Abu Marzouk added.
“The decision does not only nourish the whims of the Israeli occupation but also, and above all, sets the stage for Israeli intents to instigate Egypt to hit Gaza,” he further warned.
“The future of the Palestinian cause lies in the very arsenal and agenda of the Palestinian resistance,” he stated, adding that “despite all, Hamas has never meddled in the Arab or Egyptian internal affairs.”
Spokesperson for the popular resistance committees in Gaza, Abu Mujahed, said, meanwhile, the Egyptian ruling comes to tighten the noose already tightened around Palestinians’ necks.
“Every Egyptian wise person has to condemn the decision. We know very well that it does not, in any possible way, reflect the positions of our Egyptian brothers and sisters who have always stood by the Palestinian resistance. The decision shall very soon turn against its makers,” Abu Mujahed confirmed in his exclusive statements to the PIC.
Deputy head of the Islamic Movement in 1948 Occupied Palestine, Sheikh Kamal al-Khatib, slammed, in an exclusive interview with the PIC, the Egyptian verdict, branding it a move that ran contrary to rationale.
“The court ruling is obviously in keeping with Israel’s anti-Hamas position,” he said, adding: “Instead of backing up Gaza in its struggle against the Israeli occupation and the tough blockade, Egypt has stabbed us in the back and collaborated with our enemy against us.”
“The verdict proves that the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority has given a green light to all ad hominem campaigns against Hamas and the Palestinian resistance. This is a shame and a scar on the face of every conniver against Palestinians,” he stated.
Earlier on Saturday, the Egyptian court of urgent matters designated Hamas as a "terrorist" organization.
1 mar 2015
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) condemned the Cairo Court for Urgent Matters’ verdict branding Hamas a terrorist organization.
The PFLP-GC confirmed that Hamas has always been a resistance movement fighting against the Israeli occupation, as the only enemy, along with other Palestinian factions.
In a statement on Sunday, the PFLP-GC asked the Egyptian government as well as all Egyptian state organizations to put an end to the offenses which affect all the Palestinian factions and segments.
The statement added that this verdict offends the Egyptian people’s role in the Arab region, adding that the Egyptian people consider Israel the real enemy of the Arab and Islamic Nation.
The Front asked all Egyptian parties to confront such a dangerous deviation which is led by pro-Israel figures supporting the normalization of relations with Israel.
The PFLP-GC confirmed that Hamas has always been a resistance movement fighting against the Israeli occupation, as the only enemy, along with other Palestinian factions.
In a statement on Sunday, the PFLP-GC asked the Egyptian government as well as all Egyptian state organizations to put an end to the offenses which affect all the Palestinian factions and segments.
The statement added that this verdict offends the Egyptian people’s role in the Arab region, adding that the Egyptian people consider Israel the real enemy of the Arab and Islamic Nation.
The Front asked all Egyptian parties to confront such a dangerous deviation which is led by pro-Israel figures supporting the normalization of relations with Israel.
A senior delegation of Islamic Jihad leaders headed by the Movement’s secretary general Dr. Ramadan Shallah held talks, after his arrival in Cairo at noon Saturday, with senior Egyptian officials.
Palestine Today’s website on Sunday quoted the deputy secretary general of the Islamic Jihad Movement Ziyad al-Nakhalah as saying, “The sudden visit falls in line with the Palestinian duty to seek a gleam of hope to relieve the people in the Israeli-besieged Gaza Strip”.
Nakhalah confirmed that the opening of Rafah border crossing and Gaza reconstruction are the most significant issues to be put up for discussion with the Egyptians.
“Egypt has showed a clear interest in the Islamic Jihad propositions to resolve the outstanding crises, especially the crossing”, he added.
Nakhalah pointed out that the delegation has met with some of the Egyptian leaders and has been waiting for the appropriate time to address some issues with Hamas leaders including Dr. Mousa Abu Marzouk, who is already present in Cairo.
“The meeting aims at coming up with a comprehensive solution to be bound by all of the parties before the Egyptian leadership”, he said.
Palestine Today’s website on Sunday quoted the deputy secretary general of the Islamic Jihad Movement Ziyad al-Nakhalah as saying, “The sudden visit falls in line with the Palestinian duty to seek a gleam of hope to relieve the people in the Israeli-besieged Gaza Strip”.
Nakhalah confirmed that the opening of Rafah border crossing and Gaza reconstruction are the most significant issues to be put up for discussion with the Egyptians.
“Egypt has showed a clear interest in the Islamic Jihad propositions to resolve the outstanding crises, especially the crossing”, he added.
Nakhalah pointed out that the delegation has met with some of the Egyptian leaders and has been waiting for the appropriate time to address some issues with Hamas leaders including Dr. Mousa Abu Marzouk, who is already present in Cairo.
“The meeting aims at coming up with a comprehensive solution to be bound by all of the parties before the Egyptian leadership”, he said.
The Palestinian factions collectively rejected the Cairo Court for Urgent Matters’ ruling branding Hamas as a terrorist organization, stressing that the Movement will remain part of the Palestinian people and such verdict will not stain its glorious history in fighting on behalf of the Arab Nation against the Israeli occupation.
Palestinian Mujahideen Movement said that the Egyptian court's verdict is consistent with the Israeli occupation plans, and demanded the immediate rescinding of it.
The movement also said in a statement on Saturday: "The ruling is not in the interest of both the Egyptians and the Palestinians, but it rather serves the Israeli intentions as it contributes to the weakening of the Palestinian resistance and such a ruling is against the will of the Nation and the Egyptian people."
It added that the Palestinian resistance has taken upon itself to defend the Arab Nation's land and dignity and it distances itself from intervening in any internal affairs of any Arab country.
For his part, member of the political bureau of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Rabah Muhanna said in an exclusive statement to the PIC: "Ever since Hamas was first established in 1987, it has always been a national liberation movement fighting against the Israeli occupation along with other forces."
Muhanna expressed his fear saying: "The verdict is wrong and may have negative implications on the Palestinian current crises especially in Gaza." He ruled out that this decision may be a prelude of possible Egyptian attacks against Gaza.
In a brief statement, al-Ahrar Movement said that designating Hamas as a "terrorist organization" is a stab in the back of the Palestinian people and resistance, and called on the honorable Egyptians and the leaders of the Arab and Islamic Nation to take urgent action to cancel the ruling.
Reform and Change parliamentary bloc, affiliated with Hamas, described the ruling as politicized and a coup d'état against Egypt's history, and urged the Egyptian authorities and the Arab countries to halt the media incitement campaign against the Palestinian resistance as it solely serves the occupation.
For its part, the Islamic Jihad Movement highlighted that Hamas is a national resistance movement which has made great sacrifices throughout history to defend the Nation's dignity against the “Zionist terrorism”.
The Popular Resistance Movement said that the court's ruling doesn't reflect the Egyptian leading role in supporting the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate rights, stressing that Hamas is the spearhead of the Palestinian resistance.
The movement asked Egypt to overturn its verdict and to halt the Egyptian media incitement against Gaza and the resistance, saying: "All Palestinian factions in Gaza are keen on Egyptian stability and security and had nothing to do with the recent events in Egypt."
Hamas described the court's ruling which was issued on Saturday as dangerous and shocking, saying that it targets the Palestinian people and Palestinian resistance factions.
The Egyptian court verdict came after a lawsuit filed by lawyer Samir Sabri asking to label Hamas a "terrorist organization" on allegations that it was involved in carrying out “terrorist acts” in Egypt.
Palestinian Mujahideen Movement said that the Egyptian court's verdict is consistent with the Israeli occupation plans, and demanded the immediate rescinding of it.
The movement also said in a statement on Saturday: "The ruling is not in the interest of both the Egyptians and the Palestinians, but it rather serves the Israeli intentions as it contributes to the weakening of the Palestinian resistance and such a ruling is against the will of the Nation and the Egyptian people."
It added that the Palestinian resistance has taken upon itself to defend the Arab Nation's land and dignity and it distances itself from intervening in any internal affairs of any Arab country.
For his part, member of the political bureau of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Rabah Muhanna said in an exclusive statement to the PIC: "Ever since Hamas was first established in 1987, it has always been a national liberation movement fighting against the Israeli occupation along with other forces."
Muhanna expressed his fear saying: "The verdict is wrong and may have negative implications on the Palestinian current crises especially in Gaza." He ruled out that this decision may be a prelude of possible Egyptian attacks against Gaza.
In a brief statement, al-Ahrar Movement said that designating Hamas as a "terrorist organization" is a stab in the back of the Palestinian people and resistance, and called on the honorable Egyptians and the leaders of the Arab and Islamic Nation to take urgent action to cancel the ruling.
Reform and Change parliamentary bloc, affiliated with Hamas, described the ruling as politicized and a coup d'état against Egypt's history, and urged the Egyptian authorities and the Arab countries to halt the media incitement campaign against the Palestinian resistance as it solely serves the occupation.
For its part, the Islamic Jihad Movement highlighted that Hamas is a national resistance movement which has made great sacrifices throughout history to defend the Nation's dignity against the “Zionist terrorism”.
The Popular Resistance Movement said that the court's ruling doesn't reflect the Egyptian leading role in supporting the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate rights, stressing that Hamas is the spearhead of the Palestinian resistance.
The movement asked Egypt to overturn its verdict and to halt the Egyptian media incitement against Gaza and the resistance, saying: "All Palestinian factions in Gaza are keen on Egyptian stability and security and had nothing to do with the recent events in Egypt."
Hamas described the court's ruling which was issued on Saturday as dangerous and shocking, saying that it targets the Palestinian people and Palestinian resistance factions.
The Egyptian court verdict came after a lawsuit filed by lawyer Samir Sabri asking to label Hamas a "terrorist organization" on allegations that it was involved in carrying out “terrorist acts” in Egypt.
The Hamas Movement has expressed its belief that there is coordination between Israel and the Egyptian regime against the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip.
In recent facebook remarks, spokesman for Hamas Sami Abu Zuhri said this collaboration was vindicated by Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman last night when he said that the Egyptian court verdict against Hamas made Israel in a better position to end its rule in Gaza.
Abu Zuhri called on the Arab countries to take urgent action to redress the collapse and decline of the Egyptian position towards the Palestinian cause.
"No matter how much is the size of the Israeli alliance with the Egyptian regime, the Israeli occupation will remain the real enemy of the region's peoples," the spokesman said.
In press remarks on Saturday evening, Lieberman hailed the Egyptian court ruling that labelled Hamas as a terrorist organization and called for doing the same thing with the Arab citizens inside Israel.
He threatened to work on depriving the Arab citizens, who oppose Zionism, of Israeli citizenship and expel them from Israel.
One month after its armed wing al-Qassam Brigades was designated a terror group by the Egyptian court for urgent matters in Cairo, the same court on Saturday ruled the Hamas Movement itself a terrorist organization.
In recent facebook remarks, spokesman for Hamas Sami Abu Zuhri said this collaboration was vindicated by Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman last night when he said that the Egyptian court verdict against Hamas made Israel in a better position to end its rule in Gaza.
Abu Zuhri called on the Arab countries to take urgent action to redress the collapse and decline of the Egyptian position towards the Palestinian cause.
"No matter how much is the size of the Israeli alliance with the Egyptian regime, the Israeli occupation will remain the real enemy of the region's peoples," the spokesman said.
In press remarks on Saturday evening, Lieberman hailed the Egyptian court ruling that labelled Hamas as a terrorist organization and called for doing the same thing with the Arab citizens inside Israel.
He threatened to work on depriving the Arab citizens, who oppose Zionism, of Israeli citizenship and expel them from Israel.
One month after its armed wing al-Qassam Brigades was designated a terror group by the Egyptian court for urgent matters in Cairo, the same court on Saturday ruled the Hamas Movement itself a terrorist organization.
