Hamas: "foreign troops in Gaza will be treated like occupiers"

Saturday June 30, 2007 14:06 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News

Al Qassam brigades the armed wing of the Hamas movement issued a statement on Saturday saying that any international forces deployed in the costal region will be treated like any other occupation force.

Al Qassam fighter rallying in Gaza – File 2007

This statement come shortly after Palestinian presidents Mahmoud Abbas who is visiting France has called for the deployment of foreign troops before any Palestinianr early elections.

The brigades stated that: "We will only receive these forces with shells and guns."

In talks on Friday with Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, Abbas had called for deployment of international forces into Gaza where Hamas took total control two week ago after severe four days clashes with Fatah security forces- infighting that left 120 Palestinians dead and as many as 200 injured.

Mahmoud Abbas, arrived on Friday the French capital, met with president Nicolas Sarkozy and informed him on the latest development and the situation in the Palestinians territories. The two leaders discussed the efforts being carried out in order to resume the stalled peace process between Israel and the Palestinian authority, and discussed the general situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Following the45-minute meeting, Abbas stated that president Sarkozy confirmed the French support to the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people.

Abbas added that what he heard from Sarkozy is a political support to the international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative, in addition to a support to the two-state solution.

“My counterpart was frank and determined”, Abbas stated, “he has a clear vision to the political solution that should be implemented”.

French president office stated that France intends to transfer 15 million Euros (Approximately 20 M US Dollars) in direct aid to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

French President spokesperson, David Martinon, stated that France wants the Palestinians to build their state, and restore peace. Martinon added that France stands by Abbas as the legitimate leader of the Palestinian people.

international | diplomacy | news report ghassanb at imemc dot org