Israel Will Pay for Aggression

Evacuating injured from Wednesday's attack Photo: AP

Following recent IDF strikes in Strip, Hamas spokesman says 'Israel will pay a hefty price', condemns PA's silence calling it 'proof PA is cooperating to eliminate Hamas'. Haniyeh aide says Israeli strikes only make Gaza more determined

27 September 2007

by Ali Waked

"Israel will pay a hefty price for its aggression in Gaza," said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri on Thursday, following IDF activity in the Gaza Strip that left 11 Palestinians dead.

Abu Zuhri said Palestinian organizations would do everything in their power to resist Israeli attacks in the Strip.

Criticizing the Palestinians Authority in Ramallah for not responding to recent incidents in the Strip, Abu Zuhri said, "It is as good as cooperating with the occupation. The PA's silence proves that it is cooperating in order to eliminate Hamas in the Strip."

The spokesman continued to urge the international community to put an end to the Israeli aggression and said Israel "does not give much importance to the November peace conference".

Muhammad al Madhoun, head of Ismail Haniyeh's office also commented on the attack, saying Israeli operations only made the residents of the Strip more determined.

"Palestinians bloodshed by the Nazi military will only make our position stronger," he said.

On Wednesday former Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh called for an international committee to "restrain Israeli aggression".

Haniyeh also urged Arab states, especially Saudi Arabia, to condemn the "aggression", and mentioned that the recent attacks came following Israeli Defense MInsiter Ehud Barak's statement that Israel was nearing a wide-scale attack in the Strip.

Urging Arab leaders to boycott the international peace conference set for November, Haniyeh said, "The conference's goal is to ensure support of President Bush's plan instead of making future achievements."