Crazy war – Haniyeh
Photo: AP
Hamas PM: Crazy war must end unconditionally
For first time since start of Gaza Strip operation, Ismail Haniyeh delivers pre-recorded televised address, presents group's conditions for ceasefire; 'victory shall be ours with Allah's help,' Hamas leader says
Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh presented Hamas' conditions for a ceasefire Wednesday evening, in his first televised address since the start of Israel's Gaza operation.
"We feel that Israel faces the free Arab and Muslim world, which shall never accept this crazy war against a nation without weapons, in such small area, yet showing rare endurance," he said. "Gaza is not the only one facing the aggression…this storm within the Arab nation proved that the Strip is not alone."
The Hamas leader extended his well wishes to Palestinian casualties and to "all the teams operating on the ground," adding that the Palestinians were closely monitoring global public opinion, and particularly Arab public opinion. Haniyeh said he was satisfied with the response to the Israeli campaign.
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Similarly to an earlier speech by Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Haniyeh too chose to deliver a pre-recorded address. He said that Hamas will continue to discuss all issues "seriously" only after Israel ends its aggression unconditionally, lifts the Gaza siege, and opens the Strip's crossings.
Once Israel accepts Hamas' conditions, internal Palestinian dialogue will get underway, Haniyeh said.
Addressing Gaza residents, Haniyeh said "God is on the side of the patient," adding that the situation in Gaza after the war will be different than what it was before the war.
"This is a war that separates two periods, and victory shall be ours with Allah's help, because this nation stands firm, because the resistance stands firm, and because the occupation will fail to achieve any of its objectives," he said.
As opposed to Nasrallah, Haniyeh adopted a reconciliatory tone vis-à-vis Egypt, and stressed that the Palestinians' main adversary was Israel, and not the Arabs.
"Only the occupation is responsible for everything that is happening on the ground – for the aggression and for the siege," he said.
