Hamas urges African-Arab Summit to break siege of Gaza

The Hamas led-government in the Gaza Strip has demanded for the presidents attending the African- Arab summit on Tuesday to fulfil their historic responsibilities towards the Palestinian cause by confronting the Israeli occupation, which insists on the Judaisation of the Al-Aqsa Mosque while accelerating the pace of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.

The Palestinian government in Gaza issued a statement after its weekly meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, calling on the African-Arab summit, hosted by Kuwait with the participation of more than 71 countries and organisations, to help break the unjust siege imposed on the Gaza Strip.

The government also denounced French President François Hollande’s recent visit to Jerusalem, saying “it contradicts with France’s stated position, which considers east Jerusalem an occupied territory. Such visits carry political connotations and encourage the occupation to impose a fait accompli.”

The government said it has been cooperating with Arab and international parties to put an end to the electricity crisis in the Gaza Strip, in the hope that such efforts yield positive results soon.

The statement condemned Tuesday’s attack targeting the Iranian embassy in Beirut, stressing that the Israeli occupation is the biggest beneficiary of breaching the civil peace in Lebanon.

The government also called to discuss the proposals put forward by Prime Minister Haniyeh during his last meeting with the various Palestinian factions, pointing out that they will help to fulfil the Palestinians’ hopes for unity, partnership and lifting the siege of the Gaza Strip.

The government reaffirmed its support for the campaign for Palestinians being held in administrative detention in Israeli jails, currently totalling around 140 prisoners, calling on the masses of the Palestinian people to support them to achieve their demands.

The government also condemned the inhumane treatment of more than 20 Palestinian families in Thailand who escaped from Syria’s raging war.