Hamas: Israel fabricating pretext for new Gaza war
Spokesman says IDF report of Hamas test-firing rocket is intended to cover up 'previous crimes' in Gaza.
By DPA Tags: Israel newsHamas on Saturday accused Israel of fabricating a pretext for a new offensive in the Gaza Strip, after Israel said the Islamist militant group had test-fired a rocket that could reach Tel Aviv.
"These claims are part of the Israeli lies to justify a new aggression on the Gaza Strip," said Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas' spokesman in Gaza, in a statement.
"Such threats are coming under the title of incitement and creating pretexts in order to commit more new crimes against Gaza and cover up the previous crimes that were committed during the last war."
He was referring to the Israel Defense Forces' winter campaign against Hamas in Gaza, code-named Operation Cast Lead, whose stated goal was to halt cross-border rocket fire by militants in the coastal strip.
Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin, director of Military Intelligence, announced last week that Hamas launched a rocket some 60 kilometers into the sea, apparently as an experiment.
Such a rocket, if fired from the northernmost point of the Gaza Strip, could strike the southern cities of the Gush Dan area - including Rishon Letzion, Holon and Bat Yam - and possibly reach as far as Tel Aviv itself.
In the statement on Saturday, Barhoum called on Arab and Islamic states to sever ties with Israel in response to the IDF officer's comments.
Barhoum's statement also came after the Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, said Friday that the army would not hesitate to respond if Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip continued to fire rockets at Israel.
"We are prepared to contend with the whole arc of threats," Ashkenazi told students during a visit to a Be'er Sheva high school, citing both the local defense situation as well as Iran's contentious nuclear program.
Meanwhile, Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas' armed wing has said he could not confirm or deny that the group had test-fired a rocket, "since such news come from the occupation [Israel]."
"These threats are an evidence that the Israeli occupation had failed in its last war on Gaza to achieve its goals," he said. "The occupation is trying to escape from the international condemnations by fabricating such lies."
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Hamas men participating in an anti-Israel rally. |
| Photo by: (Reuters) |
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Even if Israel dosn't do anything Hamas and Hezabulla will keep on provoking to start the war bus sending small small missiles, so the conclusion if Israel dont start Hamas will start that is what their religion teaches
It does not work anymore.
This complaint is not false See: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1127841.html
Since Israel got it selfes out of Gaza Hamas profed to be a complete joke. From its start Hamas started rocketing Israel. Hamas did only damage to Gaza and its people. Hamas did not accomplice anything. So who says we need talk to Hamas? Last years Hamas did lead Gaza to what it is today. The only thing Hamas wants is destroing Israel and it does not care if it has to offer the Palastinian people for this purpose.
Israel must fabricate the pretext BECAUSE....a bunch of thieving, masked and fully armed lunatics threatening daily to erradicate Israel from the map isn't enough of a pretext already. These lying insane terrorists have learned the art of propaganda well the past few years and its time Israel started to spend Millions to create our own propaganda.....its what the ignorant masses feed on............what a sad world.
Rewrite your Charter of Death against Israel and its citizens or forever drag your lame foot full of self-inflicted Kalashnikov bullet holes.
Its Israel thats planning for the next crime http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1127841.html
It seems Hamas are sending disinformation about Israel's intentions in order to strengthen their weakerning support amongst Gazans at a time when they are ingnoring the Arafat celebrations. It is a dangerous ploy, which western media like the Guardian newspaper are complicite. Israel will defend its citizens whatever the fallout, it has now other choice.
When one lives by a book, ideology pervades and makes people into robots. That's what you have with Hamas. You push a button and you get responses. The message from Israel is clear. You attack Israel, you will pay the price.
I tend to agree with Ron that Israelis do not want another war with Hamas that is used as propaganda cannon fodder to hurt the reputation and image of Israel. However, should Hamas initiate another round of rocket fire, this time Israelis should condemn the United Nations along with UNHRC for sympathizing with terrorists and the real aggressors -- the Palestinian Hamas Faction among others. Then it's time to eradicate Hamas from the Gaza Strip once and for all.
A new Gaza war is a win / win situation for Hamas. If Hamas is triumphant ....then Hamas is triumphant. On the other hand if Hamas is beaten up badly along with palestinian civilians, then again there will be condemnation against Israel/ IDF. Sorry folks.... I'm for smashing Hamas....again. Eventually the palestinian public will realize they need to change direction.
Israel never wanted round 1, doesn't want round 2 either, they rather have quiet. But, if hamas starts another rocket campaign, hamas will most likely go down for good. Goldstone might want to councel hamas that there are consequences for rockets.
It does not sound like Israel at all...........!!