![Image of Israeli Knesset Speaker, Yuli Edelstein on 13 September 2013 [Yuri Levin/Wikipedia]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2011_9_13-Yuli-Edelstein.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
The Speaker of the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) launched a verbal attack against the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, on Wednesday, blaming it for the plight of Gaza’s residents, Arabs48.com has reported. Yuli Edelstein made his comments as he was addressing Russia’s parliamentary upper chamber.
Hamas, claimed the Speaker, “does not care about the life of the Gaza residents just as it does not care about the life of Israeli citizens.” He accepted that the world hears about a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “This is true. Life is difficult there, but let’s remember that every rocket launched towards Israel from Gaza equals dozens of medicine boxes, toys and food. Every single metre of a tunnel dug by Hamas beneath Gaza equals school and hospitals.”
The Israeli official, who was a prisoner in the USSR during the communist era, continued: “I know what I am saying. I was in these tunnels and they are equipped with the latest technology and big enough for motorcycles and sometime cars.”
Read: Former Israeli minister calls for dialogue with Hamas
He claimed that Hamas chooses “terror” instead of the welfare of its citizens. “Israel does not accept to be like them, though, so hundreds of truckloads of humanitarian aid are being moved from Israel to Gaza [including] fuel and construction material.”
Edelstein is in Moscow for a two-day visit. Leading Russian daily Moskovsky Komsomolets, which is close to President Vladimir Putin, published the full text of his speech.