Tag Archive for hamas

| August 10, 2012
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Hamas’ Ismail Haniyeh urges Egypt to re-open Rafah crossing

Haniyeh calls on Morsi to re-open Gaza border crossing closed since Sunday’s Sinai attack, says ‘Gaza could never be anything but a source of stability for Egypt’

By Reuters

 

The head of the Hamas government in Gaza urged Egypt on Thursday to open a vital border crossing closed since gunmen killed 16 Egyptian guards in neighboring Sinai on Sunday.

Rafah border crossing Photo: Reuters

Ismail Haniyeh pledged his support for Egypt’s investigations of the attack, which has led to the biggest Egyptian military assault in the Sinai Peninsula in nearly 40 years.

“At the same time I call upon my brother, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi to open the Rafah crossing, to regain a lifeline for Gaza,” Haniyeh said at a dinner ending the daylong Ramadan fast. Continue Reading »

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| August 9, 2012
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Egypt requests extradition of 3 Hamas terrorists for Sinai attack

East Jerusalem newspaper al-Quds reports: Demands made to PM Haniyeh to turn over three militants that provided support to radical groups in Sinai

By Avi Issacharoff and Reuters

Egyptian intelligence made a request to Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, using senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahar as an intermediary, to extradite members of  the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ paramilitary wing, according to an al-Quds newspaper report on Thursday.

Militants in northern Sinai.

Militants in northern Sinai. – Photo by AFP

A senior official informed the newspaper that the three militants provided indirect support to radical groups in Sinai, and are connected to weapons smuggling as well. Continue Reading »

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| August 6, 2012
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Egypt’s Brotherhood & Hamas say Israelis orchedtrated Sinai attack

Muslim Brotherhood suggests the attack “can be attributed to Mossad” to undermine Morsy; Hamas & Palestinian groups accuse Israel with aim of driving wedge between Palestinians & Egypt.

By REUTERS, KHALED ABU TOAMEH

The Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas each blamed Israel Monday for orchestrating a terrorist attack in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula which killed 16 Egyptian soldiers and wounded seven a day earlier. The accusations prompted a swift dismissal from Israel, which was also targeted in the attack.

Egyptian soldiers at checkpoint in Rafah – Photo: REUTERS

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood said on its website that the attack “can be attributed to Mossad” and was an attempt to thwart Islamist President Mohamed Morsy. Continue Reading »

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| August 2, 2012
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Hamas outraged at Palestinian official’s Auschwitz trip

Hamas official expresses the Islamic militant group’s official position: That Holocaust ‘is a big lie.’

 

 

Gaza’s ruling party, Hamas, has criticized a Palestinian official for visiting a memorial at the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz and paying respects to its 1.5 million victims there, most of them Jews.

Auschwitz death showers – Photo: Phillip Pasmanick

 

Hamas official Fawzi Barhoum, expressing the Islamic militant group’s position, claimed Wednesday that the Holocaust “is a big lie.” He said last week’s visit to the Auschwitz by Ziad al-Bandak, an adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, went against Palestinian public opinion. Continue Reading »

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| July 22, 2012
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Hamas Considering to Declare Gaza a Sovereign Country

Banking on Egyptian support, Hamas may declare Gaza an independent country, a Brittish Arab language newspaper reports.

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

 

Hamas is banking on Egyptian support to declare Gaza an independent state and “a liberated part of the ’67 territories,” the London-based Al Hayat Arab language paper reported Sunday.

Hamas has been tossing around the idea for two years, but Egypt has rejected the move.

The new Muslim Brotherhood government has given the Hamas terrorist party new hope, and a  senior Hamas official told Al Hayat that the subject will be discussed in meetings with newly elected Egyptian president Mohammed Mursi this Thursday. Continue Reading »

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| July 20, 2012
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Khaled asks: Who Will Save the Christians of the Gaza Strip?

Are the Palestinian Christians in the Gaza Strip really being kidnapped by Muslims who force them to convert to Islam?


 

This is a story that is considered taboo among many Palestinians, who prefer to lay all the blame only on Israel.

According to the Greek Orthodox Church in the Gaza Strip, at least five Christians have been kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam in recent weeks.

 

If anyone has good reason to fear for his life it is Archbishop Alexios, head of the Greek Church in the Gaza Strip, who is spearheading the protests against persecution of Christians and forced conversions. Continue Reading »

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| July 17, 2012
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Christians from Gaza Protest ‘forcible conversions’

Christians from predominantly Muslim Gaza staged a demonstration claiming that two 25-year-old community members, were forcibly converted to Islam

By Associated Press

 

Dozens of Christians in predominantly Muslim Gaza have staged a rare protest, claiming two members of their community were forcibly converted to Islam and are being held against their will.

Gazans celebrate Islamist victory is Egypt Photo: AFP

Gazans celebrate Islamist victory is Egypt – Photo: AFP

Gaza police say the two are staying with a Muslim religious official at their request, because they fear retribution from their families for converting.

Christians are a minority of about 1,500 people in Gaza, a territory with 1.7 million Muslim residents. Continue Reading »

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| July 14, 2012
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Hamas leader says Egypt will protect Gaza from Israeli attack

Hamas PM Ismail Haniyeh says that the new Egyptian president, Mohamed Morsi, will fully open Egypt’s borders with Gaza.

By Reuters

 

The head of the Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip said on Friday he was confident Egypt’s new president would shield the Palestinian enclave from Israeli attack and fully open its borders to end a trade blockade.

Mohamed Morsi, who won power in last month’s presidential election in Egypt, is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood and ideologically close to Hamas.

The Gazan Islamists long complained that his predecessor Hosni Mubarak, ousted from power last year in a popular revolt, sided not just with Israel, but also with their political rival – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement. Continue Reading »

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| July 11, 2012
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Gaza presents: ‘Prisoners’ summer camp’

Hamas movement offers children throughout Strip unique chance to experience suffering of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Activities include tour of mock interrogation room, walking on rusty nails

Elior Levy

 

Summer fun – Narrow hallways, interrogation rooms painted black, isolation cells and handcuffed mannequins – this is all part of the setting of a new summer camp operated by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Taught about prisoners' suffering Photo: EPA

Taught about prisoners’ suffering – Photo: EPA

The Islamic group has been operating summer camps for children in all cities and refugee camps throughout the Strip. This year, the organizers came up with an original theme – “the suffering of the Palestinian prisoners” – allowing children to experience first hand the daily lives of prisoners held in Israel. Continue Reading »

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| July 10, 2012
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PA announces plan to hold elections, angers Hamas

In blow to Palestinian unity efforts, PA cabinet announces plan to hold local elections in West Bank and Gaza on October 20.

By REUTERS

 

The Palestinian Authority on Tuesday announced it planned to hold local elections in October in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, angering Gaza’s Islamist Hamas rulers.

PA President Abbas and Hamas's Mashaal [file] - Photo: REUTERS/Ho New

PA President Abbas and Hamas’s Mashaal – Photo: REUTERS/Ho New

“The Palestinian cabinet approved during its meeting today … conducting local elections on 20 October 2012 in all local councils in the homeland,” The PA said in a statement.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri responded: “Hamas regards this unilateral step as undermining reconciliation and a decision of escalation that would further complicate the file of reconciliation and therefore, Hamas holds the Fatah movement responsible for the consequences that may result.”

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| July 9, 2012
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Hamas Destroys Arab Homes on ‘Gov’t Land;’ UN Silent

The headline “Government destroys Arab homes” normally would draw fire from media and the UN, but not if it the government is Hamas.

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

 

The headline “Government destroys Arab homes on ‘government land’” normally would draw fire and brimstone from mainstream media and the United Nations if Israel were the subject, but not if the government is Hamas.

Armed Hamas army in Gaza

Armed Hamas army in Gaza – Reuters

The Hamas regime in Gaza began demolishing several homes on Sunday, according to the Bethlehem-based Ma’an news agency, closely aligned with the Palestinian Authority.

One resident told the news agency that more than 120 families live in a four-acre area that is now under the threat of destruction although they have been living there since 1948, when Gaza was part of Egypt. Continue Reading »

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| July 2, 2012
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IAF Strikes Terror Cell in Northern Gaza

IAF aircraft attack a terrorist cell in Gaza as it prepares to launch rockets at southern Israel.

By Elad Benari

 

IAF aircraft attacked a terrorist cell in northern Gaza on Monday morning, as it was preparing to launch rockets at southern Israel.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement that the aircraft scored a direct hit.

“The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers and will continue to act decisively and strongly against anyone who uses terror against Israel,” said the IDF statement.

Despite an Egyptian-brokered “ceasefire” recently announced by Hamas, terrorists from Gaza have continued to sproadically fire rockets at southern Israel. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| June 29, 2012
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Hamas operatives head to Jordan for assassinated terrorist’s funeral

Group’s Politburo Chief Khaled Mashaal, other officials attend funeral of Hamas member who was assassinated in Damascus. ‘He survived several attempts on his life,’ say anonymous Hamas source

By Elior Levy

 

 

The mystery surrounding the assassination of Hamas official Kamal Ranaja in Damascus on Wednesday has yet to be resolved, but media outlets released new details Thursday shedding light on the life of the man who replaced Mahmoud al-Mabhouh and was claimed to be a key player in the organization’s military wing.

Ranaja

Ranaja

According to reports, between 12 and 24 hours passed before Ranaja’s body was discovered. Several eyewitnesses have reported that the house was torched by the assassins, but neighbors claim only the kitchen and entrance were set on fire. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| June 28, 2012
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Hamas Terror Mastermind Convicted of 46 Murder

Israeli military court rules that Hamas member Ibrahim Hamad is guilty of ordering terror attacks which murdered 46 Israelis.

By Elad Benari

 

An Israeli military court ruled on Wednesday that Ibrahim Hamad, the former commander of Hamas’ military wing in the Palestinian Authority-controlled areas of Judea and Samaria, is guilty of the murder of 46 Israelis.

Ibrahim Hamad in court

Ibrahim Hamad in court - Photo: Reuters

According to a report on Channel 2 News, Hamad was convicted of involvement in a series of suicide terror attacks. These include an attack at the Sheffield Club in Rishon Letzion which killed six Israelis, a suicide attack at Café Moment in Jerusalem which killed 12 people, an attack at the Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall in Jerusalem and an attack at the cafeteria of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| June 24, 2012
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Peres: Israeli patience with rockets wearing thin

Speaking at Jewish Agency Assembly, president says if Hamas continues to endanger civilians, Israel will be forced to retaliate.

 

 

Israel’s patience against rocket attacks was wearing thin, President Shimon Peres implied at the opening of the Jewish Agency Assembly in Jerusalem on Sunday, as he cautioned Hamas against further firing of rockets

As he had at the opening of thePresidential Conference last week, Peres saluted the strength, the courage and the dedication of the residents of southern Israel in coping with the current barrage of rocket fire from Gaza.

President Shimon Peres - Photo: Marc IsraelSellem

President Shimon Peres - Photo: Marc IsraelSellem

“We can stop it and we will stop it,” he said.

Continue Reading »
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