Hamas blames Israel for intensifying current wave of violence

Hamas today blamed the Israeli government for the current escalation of violence in the occupied Palestinians territories and Israel.

In a statement, Hamas spokesman Fawzy Barhoom said: “We blame the government of the Israeli occupation for igniting the situation with the Palestinian people as it continues its foolish acts, crimes, violations and dangerous racist policies.”

Barhoom added: “Hamas hails the uprising of the Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jerusalem and occupied Palestine [Israel].”

He called upon all Palestinians to join the “revolution” and to “strongly” be involved in the clashes with the Israeli occupation in order to “defend their dignity and holy places”.

Yesterday evening an Israeli airstrike killed seven Hamas operatives in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. An earlier airstrike yesterday killed two Palestinian citizens in Al-Bureij refugee camp in the middle of the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces continue facing angry Palestinians in West Bank cities, Jerusalem and Israel, who are protesting following the abduction and burning to death of a Palestinian boy in Jerusalem late last week.

The current wave of violence erupted as Israel started a massive military operation against Palestinians in the West Bank on June 12, when three Israeli settlers went missing and were later found dead.

Israeli forces arrested more than 500 Palestinians, including about 50 prisoners freed in a prisoners swap in 2011. They also broke into hundreds of Palestinian houses and charities and caused much damage.

Euro-mid Observer for Human Rights said on Saturday that the Israeli occupation forces confiscated near $3 million from Palestinian houses, companies and charities during the operation.