Gazans protest against having Israeli-Palestinian peace talks

 

Hamas leader: Abbas doesn’t have the right to relinquish any piece of Palestinian land. Returning to talks is a blow to jihad & to our sacrifices.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

 

Hundreds of Palestinians on Friday protested in the Gaza Strip against the recently renewed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, AFP reported.

Israeli Arabs wave Palestinian flags during a rally, April 2007.

Israeli Arabs wave Palestinian flags during a rally, April 2007.- Photo: REUTERS/Ammar Awad

The marches, reportedly organized by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, condemned rival West Bank-based Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s “political failure” for returning to the negotiating table with Israel.

Protesters commenced marching from various mosques across the enclave toward a square in central Gaza City, according to AFP.

“All the Palestinian factions say you don’t have the right to relinquish any piece of our land, or to give up Palestinian rights,” AFP quoted Hamas religious affairs minister Ismail Ridwan as addressing his party’s rival Fatah leader during demonstrations.

According to Hamas, Abbas’ decision to engage in talks with Israel was not reflective of the interest of the Palestinian people.

“Returning to talks is a blow to the jihad and to the sacrifices of our people, the blood of our martyrs and to our prisoners behind bars in Israel,” Ridwan said.

Hamas has deemed renewed peace talks a “mirage” warning Fatah and the Palestinian Authority of what the group say is the futility of negotiations.

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators met in Jerusalem on Tuesday for the latest round of talks. The parties were due to meet in Jericho to hold the next meeting.

Tensions between rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have been aggravated by the recent political upheaval in Egypt.

 

View original Jerusalem Post publication at: http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Palestinian-protestors-march-against-peace-talks-in-Gaza-324074