Hamas' Deif calls for armed resistance to go on

Hamas militants released a videotape yesterday purportedly showing a bomb-maker at the top of the most-wanted list celebrating the Gaza Strip pullout as a victory for armed resistance, and urging the destruction of the state.

The call for continued violence by Mohammed Deif, a senior Hamas commander who masterminded dozens of deaths in suicide bombings, is the latest by Hamas officials as the group now focuses its armed struggle on the West Bank.

"You are leaving Gaza today in shame," Deif said. "Today you are leaving hell. But we promise you that tomorrow all Palestine will be hell for you, God willing."

In the tape, Deif praised the armed struggle. "We did not achieve the liberation of the Gaza Strip without this holy war and this steadfastness," he said, adding that attacks should continue until Israel is eradicated.

Deif, known for operating in the shadows, has eluded Israeli security forces for more than a decade, surviving at least two assassination attempts, including a 2002 missile attack in which he lost an eye.

There was no way to positively identify the figure on the videotape as Deif, because his face was in silhouette. He has been in hiding since 1992 and the only known photos of him were taken in the 1980s.

But the high quality of the video, which was stamped with the logo of the Hamas military wing, as well as the similarity of the voice to previous recordings, indicated the tape was authentic.

Hamas would not say when the tape was made. But it had boasted for nearly two weeks that Deif would make a public statement, and militants delivered the tape to The Associated Press offices in Gaza City. The group also posted a transcript of his comments on its Web site.

Gideon Meir, a senior official with the Israeli Foreign Ministry, said Deif's comments threatened to sour the climate of good will that the Gaza pullout has created.

	Mohammed Deif. (AP)