Tag Archive for hamas

| March 20, 2012
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Gaza’s tunnel tycoons

Some 600 new millionaires made their fortunes by smuggling goods in Gaza tunnels, at the expense of thousands of workers risking their lives. Social uprising on the way?

The Gaza Strip usually makes headlines for rocket launching and IDF raids, but the daily lives of its residents are mostly affected by poverty, unemployment, faulty infrastructure and Hamas government corruption. A new study shows that in the past five years a new class of young millionaires emerged in Gaza.

The Gaza blockade enabled many to capitalize on the smuggling of goods via the Rafah tunnels. A new class of 600 young “tunnel millionaires” made their fortunes often at the expense of thousands of workers risking their lives in the tunnels. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| March 19, 2012
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UN cancels Hamas official visit to Human Rights Council after Israeli complaint

A top Hamas official’s appearance before the UN’s Human Rights Council was canceled on Monday following an official complaint filed by Israel.

Israeli Ambassador Aharon Leshno-Yaar says he wrote to UN officials urging them to deny Ismail Al-Ashqar access to the UN’s European headquarters because of Hamas’ advocacy of violence against Israel.

Human Rights Council AP May 21, 2010.

A session of the Human Rights Council at the UN European headquarters in Geneva, May 31, 2010. - Photo by AP

Following the complaint the UN chief in Geneva barred Al-Ashqar from entering the Human Rights Council hall, and he was asked to leave the UN compound in Geneva. Continue Reading »

Category: Jewish News | Tags: ,
| March 18, 2012
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Hamas: We’ll continue fighting Israel in political arena

During visit to Turkey, Mashaal calls on Palestinians to leave differences aside for sake of national unity, claims recent rocket fire was act of self defense

Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal said Sunday during a visit to Turkey, “We will naturally continue our fight against Israel in political, diplomatic and media fields. We will try to get the greatest support possible from the world.”

He said that the recent missile attacks on Israel were in self-defense, asserting that Palestinian missiles are fired only after Israeli attacks. He also accused Israel of using Gaza as a “guinea pig” when testing its missile capabilities as tensions between Israel and Iran increase. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| March 17, 2012
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Fatah accuses Iran of trying to block Palestinian unity

Following Hamas visits to Iran, Fatah says the Islamic Republic is paying Hamas leaders in Gaza to block reconciliation efforts; attempts to implement unity agreement at an impasse.

Hamas PM Ismail Haniyeh arrives in Tehran - Photo By REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl

Hamas PM Ismail Haniyeh arrives in Tehran - Photo By REUTERS/Mortez

Iran is funding some Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip to encourage them to thwart efforts to achieve reconciliation with Fatah, Azzam al-Ahmed, member of the Fatah Central Committee, said Saturday.

Ahmed’s charges came in response to the visit of two top Hamas leaders, Mahmoud Zahar and Ismail Haniyeh, to Iran in the past few weeks.

“Iran does not want the Palestinians to end their divisions,” Ahmed told the Lebanese newspaper Al-Mustaqbal. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| March 17, 2012
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Mashaal in Turkey: Israel Used Gaza to Test Iron Dome

Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal meets Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan. blames Israel for using excuses to attack Gaza.

 

The head of Hamas’ political bureau, Khaled Mashaal, met on Friday with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two met for two hours during a surprise visit Mashaal made to Ankara.

Channel 10 News reported that during the meeting, Mashaal told Erdogan that Israel had used excuses to attack Gaza during the escalation this week, when terrorists fired more than 200 rockets at southern Israel.

Erdogan and Mashaal meet in Turkey

Erdogan and Mashaal meet in Turkey - Photo:Reuters

“Israel used Gaza as an experiment field for the Iron Dome and for the IDF’s weapons,” Mashaal was quoted by Channel 10 as having told Erdogan. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| March 14, 2012
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Nasrallah, Hamas: Israel ‘tested’ Gaza factions ahead of possible Iran strike

Hezbollah leader meets top Islamist group figures in Lebanon; according to local newspaper, they claimed Israel instigated latest round of violence in south to gauge terrorists’ readiness to take part in regional conflict

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah met with senior Hamas figures on Monday to discuss regional developments, Lebanese newspaper Al-Sapir reported.

Hassan Nasrallah Photo: EPA

Hassan Nasrallah - Photo: EPA

According to the report, published Wednesday, Hamas’ delegation was headed by Deputy Politburo Chief Moussa Abu Marzouk. The meeting in Lebanon focused on the latest round of violence between Israel and Gaza, the uprising in Syria and the Muslim Brotherhood’s ties to Hezbollah and Iran. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| March 13, 2012
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Hamas Mortar Attacks Keep Terror on the Burner

Gaza terrorists attacked the Negev with five mortar shells at noon Tuesday, lowering the intensity of attacks but breaking the ceasefire.

 

Gaza terrorists attacked the western Negev with five mortar shells around noon Tuesday, lowering the intensity of attacks but breaking the ceasefire.

The attacks are seen as an attempt to maintain “calm,” which previously has been defined as a situation in which missiles are not fired on urban areas while primitive Kassam rockets and mortar shells are fired at the farming area of the western Negev.

They also provide an immediate test for Israel hours after IDF Chief of Benny Gantz said that the military would maintain quiet if terrorists silence their weapons but will “fight fire with fire” if not. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News, Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| March 13, 2012
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Rocket Fire a ‘Dramatic Development’

The IDF says the quantity and rate of fire from Gaza is unprecedented; notes terrorists are actively using civilians as human shields.

IDF officials say the 200 rockets fired at Israel’s southern communities since Friday marks a “dramatic development in terms of the quantity and rate of the fire.”

“In the first three days of the current round of fighting we’ve sustained a larger quantity of rockets than the quantity fired at Israel in the two previous rounds, in August and October, which were longer,” an army official said.

Hamas Kassam Launcher

Hamas Kassam Launcher Wikimedia Commons

More than 50 of the rockets fired in recent days were medium-range missiles, and most attacks were carried out by the Islamic Jihad, the army said. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News, Mid-East News | Tags: , , , , ,
| March 12, 2012
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Hamas’ Zahar: Ceasefire likely to come soon

Organization’s leader Mahmoud Zahar says Israel does not want escalation; ceasefire will come when Israel stops attacks in Gaza; PRC, Islamic Jihad: No ceasefire while air strikes continue.

 

CAIRO – A truce is likely soon in the cross-border hostilities between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza but the timing depends on Israel, Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar said on Monday.

“I expect matters will calm down,” Zahar told Reuters in Cairo.

“The statements coming from them (Israel) either in public or via mediators, especially Egypt, say that they do not want escalation.”

Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar - Photo By Reuters

Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar - Photo By Reuters

Asked how long it would take, Zahar said he did not know but it would depend on Israel, which he blamed for setting off the latest round of violence by killing Palestinian leaders on Friday. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| March 12, 2012
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This round will likely go to Israel

If there are fewer launches Monday, Israel will likely reduce its attacks, and this round of hostilities will wind down by midweek.

 

Fewer rockets were fired at Israel on Sunday, but the fact that Katyushas did nonetheless fall in Be’er Sheva spurred tough talk from Israel, which threatened to continue attacking the Gaza Strip.

Still, if there are fewer launches Monday, Israel will likely reduce its attacks, and this round of hostilities will wind down by midweek, much as last year’s periodic flare-ups did.

This optimistic assessment comes with two strong caveats: One, this is all true so long as there are no Israeli deaths; and two, the Islamic Jihad’s rising frustration at its inability to achieve much may lead it to take the extreme – almost suicidal – step of firing rockets at the Tel Aviv area.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News, Mid-East News | Tags: , , , , ,
| March 10, 2012
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Palestinians fire 92 rockets at southern Israel

Iron Dome intercepts 25 rockets aimed at city centers; 8 injured, including 1 critically from rocket shrapnel on Friday night in rural region; Safety instructions in place for residents living within 40 km of Gaza.

Car damaged from Gaza rocket on March 10, 2012

Car damaged from Gaza rocket on March 10, 2012 - Photo By IDF Spokesman's Office

 

Palestinian terrorists in Gaza targeted cities, towns, and farming regions in southern Israel with waves of rockets throughout Friday and Saturday, setting off air raid sirens and injuring eight people

Ninety two rockets – Kassams and the longer-range Grads – were fired by midday Saturday at civilian regions. Of those, the Iron Dome anti-rocket system intercepted 25 projectiles heading directly into city centers in Ashdod, Beersheba and Ashkelon.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| March 10, 2012
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80 rockets fired at Israel since Friday

Palestinians launch rockets, mortar shells at Israel’s south prompting IAF to strike Gaza terror cells, killing 12 Islamic Jihad operatives. Iron Dome intercepts Grads fired at Ashdod, Beersheba

 

Palestinians from northern Gaza fired rockets at Beersheba, Ashdod and Gan Yavne early Saturday morning as the Color Red alert was sounded across Israel‘s southern cities.

Iron Dome Photo: Avi Rokach

Iron Dome - Photo by Avi Rokach

The IDF estimates that over 80 rockets have been fired at Israel since Friday, 65 exploded in the south. A Home Front Command official said: “The Command’s instructions have proven to save lives and they should be followed. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| March 10, 2012
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Hamas Beats Reporters in Gaza

Three reporters covering a mass wedding in Gaza City were brutally beaten by Hamas security forces.

Three reporters were attacked by Hamas security forces while covering a mass wedding in Gaza City on Thursday.

Reports identified the three as local Sky News reporter Mohammad al-Mashharawi, BBC reporter Adnan al-Dorosh and Amer Abu Omar, a Gaza-based journalist.

Witnesses told the Bethleham-based Maan News Agency that the the three were severely beaten in a nearby playground.

The Palestine News Network said that al-Mashharawi was detained by Hamas and that his location is currently unknown.

Gaza’s Ministry of Interior issued a statement shortly after the incident condemning the attack. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags:
| March 8, 2012
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Senior Hamas Leader Undecided on Attacking Israel Over Iran

Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahar sends different signals when asked whether Hamas will attack Israel if it attacks Iran.

 

A senior leader in the Hamas terrorist organization sent two different signals on Wednesday, when he was asked whether the group would attack Israel if it launches a pre-emptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

First, Mahmoud al-Zahar denied the group would get involved and told the BBC, “We are not part of any political axis. If Israel attacks us we will respond. If they don’t, we will not get involved in any other regional conflict.”

Mahmoud al-Zahar

Mahmoud al-Zahar - Photo by Reuters

He also questioned Hamas’ ability to offer support to Iran from Gaza, if it wanted to. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| March 7, 2012
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‘Hamas won’t aid Iran if war breaks out’

Salah Bardawil says Hamas ‘won’t do Iran’s bidding in any war’; adds group will not escalate situation with Israel simply at Tehran’s request

 

Hamas will not automatically side with Iran in case of a military conflict with Israel, the Guardian reported Tuesday.

Senior Politburo member in Gaza Strip Salah Bardawil said that Hamas “will not do Iran’s bidding in any war with Israel, and will not launch rockets at Israel at Tehran’s request.”

Salah Bardawil Photo: AP

Salah Bardawil - Photo: AP

“If there is a war between two powers, Hamas will not be part of such a war,” Bardawil was quoted as saying. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News, Mid-East News | Tags: ,
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