Hamas: Lifting siege is the only way to achieve quiet along Gaza's periphery

The Palestinian Islamic movement Hamas said on Monday that lifting the Israeli siege of the Gaza Strip is the only way to regain quiet for Israelis living in settlements along the Gaza periphery.

This was the message from Hamas to Israeli settlers living around the Gaza Strip, who have refused to return back to their homes after the end of the Israeli war on the Strip.

In a press release, Safa press agency quoted Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri as saying that: “Israelis have to recognise that [Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu has not been concerned and is still not concerned with lifting the siege of the Gaza Strip.”

Last month, Israeli settlers living along the Gaza periphery organised a protest in front of Netanyahu’s house in Jerusalem. They called on him to immediately lift the siege of the Gaza Strip and to reach a peaceful and diplomatic solution with the Palestinians in Gaza.

The protesters reportedly raised posters and placards reading: “The siege of Gaza must be immediately lifted and talks for a diplomatic solution have to start now.”