Hamas: Qatar changed the equation in favour of the resistance

A senior Hamas official commended the role played by the state of Qatar during the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, saying the Gulf state has changed the equation in favour of the Palestinian resistance both politically and militarily.

Osama Hamdan, the movement’s international relations officer pointed out that the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani criticism of the United Nations’ performance during his meeting with the organisation’s chief, Ban Ki-moon, was instrumental in changing the secretary-general’s position.

Further, Hamdan said Al-Jazeera has played an important role in exposing Israel and its crimes against the Palestinians in Gaza to the world.

Hamdan said that the Palestinian resistance has not revealed all its capabilities until now and that its missiles proved their ability to harm the Israelis, although the movement did not respond to Israel’s intentional targeting of children and civilians.

Speaking during a symposium organised by Al-Sharq news agency yesterday, Hamdan said the Palestinian delegation in Cairo had agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire based on the Palestinian conditions. He noted that the Egyptians had agreed to the Palestinian resistance’s demands to ensure the cessation of the aggression and to open the horizon for a long term agreement.

He stressed that the delegation in Egypt insisted on the Palestinian resistance’s demands, especially after Israel’s lies and violations of previous ceasefires were exposed.

BOX:

Palestinian demands:

– Israel ceases fire; stops the aerial, underground, ground and naval attacks

– Israel withdraws from all of the Gaza Strip

– Israel lifts the seven-year long siege on Gaza

– The Rafah crossing is opened to allow Palestinians the freedom of movement and travel

– The release of Palestinian prisoners; especially those previously released in the 2011 Shalit prisoner exchange who have since been re-arrested

– Construction begin in Gaza