Hamas defiant as hardline Israeli coalition takes shape
"We admire the resistance but as a ruler, Hamas needs to find a solution to our misery that doesn't worsen it
Hamas supporters attend a rally marking the 35th anniversary of the movement founding, in Gaza City
Wed, December 14, 2022
By Nidal al-Mughrabi
GAZA (Reuters) - Leaders of the Islamist movement Hamas swore defiance in a choreographed display of force on Wednesday as one of the most hardline right-wing governments in Israel's history looks set to take office later this month.
Speaking before a sea of green flags in Gaza City's Katiba gardens at a rally to mark Hamas' 35th anniversary, the movement's leader in Gaza, Yahya Al-Sinwar said Palestinians faced an "open confrontation" with Israel.
He said the al-Aqsa mosque complex in Jerusalem, a site revered by both Muslims and Jews, who know it as the Temple Mount, was threatened with encroachment by the "Talmudic, fascist, Zionist, rightist government" and said Hamas would respond with force.
"We admire the resistance but as a ruler, Hamas needs to find a solution to our misery that doesn't worsen it
Hamas supporters attend a rally marking the 35th anniversary of the movement founding, in Gaza City
Wed, December 14, 2022
By Nidal al-Mughrabi
GAZA (Reuters) - Leaders of the Islamist movement Hamas swore defiance in a choreographed display of force on Wednesday as one of the most hardline right-wing governments in Israel's history looks set to take office later this month.
Speaking before a sea of green flags in Gaza City's Katiba gardens at a rally to mark Hamas' 35th anniversary, the movement's leader in Gaza, Yahya Al-Sinwar said Palestinians faced an "open confrontation" with Israel.
He said the al-Aqsa mosque complex in Jerusalem, a site revered by both Muslims and Jews, who know it as the Temple Mount, was threatened with encroachment by the "Talmudic, fascist, Zionist, rightist government" and said Hamas would respond with force.
"We will come to you with an endless number of rockets, we will come to you with an endless number of soldiers," he said, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition with hardline religious parties of seeking a "religious war".
The rally, after a year that has seen some of the worst violence in the occupied West Bank in more than a decade and a brief conflict in Gaza, comes as Netanyahu prepares to take office at the head of a coalition uniting his Likud party with a clutch of hardline religious parties.
Tens of thousands of Hamas supporters filled the square, as solemn music boomed out over loudspeakers and black uniformed members of the movement's armed wing marched through the crowd.
Born out of the Muslim Brotherhood movement in the late 1980s, Hamas assumed power in Gaza after defeating the rival Fatah movement in elections in 2006 and has maintained a steadfast hostility to Israel.
But ever since it fought a 10-day war with Israel that ended in a ceasefire more than a year ago, relations between the two sides on the ground have been, if not tranquil, then at least under a wary sort of control.
Sinwar said the movement had been restrained by the need to rebuild after the 2021 war.
"Our silence is preparation and if we talk, it will be guns talking on our behalf," he said.
Despite the West Bank violence that has claimed at least 165 Palestinian lives, Hamas has not intervened and it remained quiet in August when Israeli jets bombarded sites connected with the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group in Gaza.
However its greatest challenge remains at home, where it is under increasing pressure to improve the quality of life for the 2.3 million Palestinians crammed into Gaza, under blockade for the past 15 years from both Israel and neighbouring Egypt and facing an unemployment rate of 50%.
"We admire the resistance but as a ruler, Hamas needs to find a solution to our misery that doesn't worsen it," said Abu Ali, owner of a clothes shop in Gaza city.
(Writing by Nidal Almughrabi; editing by James Mackenzie, Alexandra Hudson)
The rally, after a year that has seen some of the worst violence in the occupied West Bank in more than a decade and a brief conflict in Gaza, comes as Netanyahu prepares to take office at the head of a coalition uniting his Likud party with a clutch of hardline religious parties.
Tens of thousands of Hamas supporters filled the square, as solemn music boomed out over loudspeakers and black uniformed members of the movement's armed wing marched through the crowd.
Born out of the Muslim Brotherhood movement in the late 1980s, Hamas assumed power in Gaza after defeating the rival Fatah movement in elections in 2006 and has maintained a steadfast hostility to Israel.
But ever since it fought a 10-day war with Israel that ended in a ceasefire more than a year ago, relations between the two sides on the ground have been, if not tranquil, then at least under a wary sort of control.
Sinwar said the movement had been restrained by the need to rebuild after the 2021 war.
"Our silence is preparation and if we talk, it will be guns talking on our behalf," he said.
Despite the West Bank violence that has claimed at least 165 Palestinian lives, Hamas has not intervened and it remained quiet in August when Israeli jets bombarded sites connected with the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group in Gaza.
However its greatest challenge remains at home, where it is under increasing pressure to improve the quality of life for the 2.3 million Palestinians crammed into Gaza, under blockade for the past 15 years from both Israel and neighbouring Egypt and facing an unemployment rate of 50%.
"We admire the resistance but as a ruler, Hamas needs to find a solution to our misery that doesn't worsen it," said Abu Ali, owner of a clothes shop in Gaza city.
(Writing by Nidal Almughrabi; editing by James Mackenzie, Alexandra Hudson)
Hamas marks anniversary, predicts confrontation with Israel
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Palestinians Hamas Anniversary
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Palestinians Hamas Anniversary
Members of the Izz ad-Din al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian group Hamas, parade on Hamas' 35th anniversary in Gaza City, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians thronged the rally in downtown Gaza to mark the founding of the militant group, as leaders predicted a year of "open confrontation" with the hardline Israeli government expected to take office in the coming days.
(AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Wed, December 14, 2022
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians on Wednesday thronged a rally in downtown Gaza to mark the 35th anniversary of the founding of the Hamas militant group, as leaders predicted a year of “open confrontation” with the hardline Israeli government expected to take office in the coming days.
Hamas, an armed Islamic group that has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, worked hard to mobilize the large turnout at the city's Katiba park, viewing it as a show of strength at a time when it appears to be struggling for popularity.
Hamas seized control of the impoverished enclave from forces loyal to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, whose administration has been confined to the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Israel and Egypt have maintained a blockade on Gaza since the Hamas takeover, tightly controlling the movement of people and goods in and out of the territory in what Israel says is a security measure. Gaza's economy has gone into a tailspin, and the territory has fought four wars and numerous skirmishes with Israel since Hamas took power.
During the rally, Hamas leaders predicted an “open confrontation” with Israel in 2023 as the most right-wing government ever is expected to be sworn in later this month.
“We have to give the chance to ignite the resistance in the West Bank,” said Yehiyeh Sinwar, Hamas' leader in Gaza.
More than 150 Palestinians have been killed by Israel in the West Bank and east Jerusalem this year, making it the deadliest year since 2006. Israel says most of those killed were militants, though stone-throwing youths and people uninvolved in fighting have also been killed.
Sinwar slammed Abbas, calling for an end to the Palestinian Authority’s security coordination with Israel, which he said hurt mounting resistance to Israeli raids in the West Bank. The Israeli military maintains quiet coordination with Abbas' forces in a shared struggle against Islamic militants.
Hamas also displayed what it said was the assault rifle of Hadar Goldin, an Israeli soldier who along with Oron Shaul was killed in a 2014 war inside Gaza.
Sinwar said Israel has “a limited amount of time” to swap Palestinian prisoners it is holding for the remains of Goldin and Shaul “or we close this file for good.”
While Hamas leaders directed fiery rhetoric at Israel and Abbas, they overlooked the increasing suffering of the 2.3 million residents of Gaza under its rule.
While the blockade has stifled Gaza's economy, critics note that the groups has continuously upgraded its arsenal, including digging attack tunnels into Israel and improving rocket capabilities.
Critics say the group diverts money towards its administration and military wing, while the international community and the PA pay for most of health, education, social and other services for Gaza’ population.
Hamas’ heavy-handed rule allows no room for opposition, and the group has banned protests against it and jailed critics.
Many of the group's top leaders also have left Gaza for more comfortable locations in places like Turkey and Qatar.
A poll conducted this month by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, a respected think tank based in the West Bank, found that Hamas remains more popular than Abbas' Fatah party in the Gaza Strip. It said 43% of respondents would vote for Hamas in a parliamentary election, compared to 34% for Fatah. Still, the poll found that just 6% of Gazans think the situation in the territory is positive, and 69% believe that Hamas-run institutions suffer from corruption.
The poll interviewed some 1,200 people and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
Wed, December 14, 2022
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians on Wednesday thronged a rally in downtown Gaza to mark the 35th anniversary of the founding of the Hamas militant group, as leaders predicted a year of “open confrontation” with the hardline Israeli government expected to take office in the coming days.
Hamas, an armed Islamic group that has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, worked hard to mobilize the large turnout at the city's Katiba park, viewing it as a show of strength at a time when it appears to be struggling for popularity.
Hamas seized control of the impoverished enclave from forces loyal to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, whose administration has been confined to the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Israel and Egypt have maintained a blockade on Gaza since the Hamas takeover, tightly controlling the movement of people and goods in and out of the territory in what Israel says is a security measure. Gaza's economy has gone into a tailspin, and the territory has fought four wars and numerous skirmishes with Israel since Hamas took power.
During the rally, Hamas leaders predicted an “open confrontation” with Israel in 2023 as the most right-wing government ever is expected to be sworn in later this month.
“We have to give the chance to ignite the resistance in the West Bank,” said Yehiyeh Sinwar, Hamas' leader in Gaza.
More than 150 Palestinians have been killed by Israel in the West Bank and east Jerusalem this year, making it the deadliest year since 2006. Israel says most of those killed were militants, though stone-throwing youths and people uninvolved in fighting have also been killed.
Sinwar slammed Abbas, calling for an end to the Palestinian Authority’s security coordination with Israel, which he said hurt mounting resistance to Israeli raids in the West Bank. The Israeli military maintains quiet coordination with Abbas' forces in a shared struggle against Islamic militants.
Hamas also displayed what it said was the assault rifle of Hadar Goldin, an Israeli soldier who along with Oron Shaul was killed in a 2014 war inside Gaza.
Sinwar said Israel has “a limited amount of time” to swap Palestinian prisoners it is holding for the remains of Goldin and Shaul “or we close this file for good.”
While Hamas leaders directed fiery rhetoric at Israel and Abbas, they overlooked the increasing suffering of the 2.3 million residents of Gaza under its rule.
While the blockade has stifled Gaza's economy, critics note that the groups has continuously upgraded its arsenal, including digging attack tunnels into Israel and improving rocket capabilities.
Critics say the group diverts money towards its administration and military wing, while the international community and the PA pay for most of health, education, social and other services for Gaza’ population.
Hamas’ heavy-handed rule allows no room for opposition, and the group has banned protests against it and jailed critics.
Many of the group's top leaders also have left Gaza for more comfortable locations in places like Turkey and Qatar.
A poll conducted this month by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, a respected think tank based in the West Bank, found that Hamas remains more popular than Abbas' Fatah party in the Gaza Strip. It said 43% of respondents would vote for Hamas in a parliamentary election, compared to 34% for Fatah. Still, the poll found that just 6% of Gazans think the situation in the territory is positive, and 69% believe that Hamas-run institutions suffer from corruption.
The poll interviewed some 1,200 people and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
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