Hamas calls for a state of emergency in Gaza

Thursday November 01, 2007 18:27 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies

The ruling Hamas movement in Gaza called on Thursday on all Palestinian resistance factions to declare a high state of alert, in preparation for an imminent Israeli massive offensive on the coastal region.

Hamas Emblem

In a statement faxed to press, the group said it would work on setting up a joint operation room, comprised of all resistance factions and equipped with all needed logistic support, in a bid to defer likely Israeli attacks on Gaza.

“ Hamas is well-prepared to engage in a battle with the Israeli army, once the Gaza Strip is invaded, as Hamas is confident of victory, given its strong trust in God”, the statement read.

The statement added that the battle, the Palestinian people have been involved in against the enemy (Israel) will end in a victory of the resistance and that the enemy will retreat, facing the Qassam’s (Hamas’s military wing) blows.

Hamas’s press release also condemned the Israeli special undercover units’ attempt to abduct the mother and two sisters of its fighter Yousef Alwalayda, from northern Gaza, who was killed by the Israeli army a couple of days ago in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis.

The group branded the abduction attempt as an indication of the Israeli ‘enemy’s’ inability to inflict losses to the Qassam brigades during a battle with its soldiers in Khan Younis recently.

The Israeli defense minister, Ehud Barak, has recently hinted at the possibility of launching a massive military offensive on Gaza in the most near future.

Over the past two weeks, more than twenty Palestinians, mainly resistance fighters of different groups, have been killed by the Israeli army in Gaza, as dozens of Palestinian homemade shells have been reportedly fallen on nearby Israeli areas.

Since mounting to power after last January’s legislative elections, the Islamist Hamas group, has rejected recognizing Israel, renouncing violence and accepting past signed agreements.

gaza strip | israeli attacks | news report rami at imemc dot org