Hamas holds US responsible for Gaza massacres

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement has said that it holds the US administration directly responsible for the brutal massacres committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip, the latest of which was carried out on Saturday on a school sheltering displaced Palestinians. “The US has provided Israel with political and military support, making it a direct accomplice in [Al-Taba’een School] massacre and other crimes and violations,” said Hamas on Telegram yesterday.

The Israeli army targeted the displaced people at Al-Taba’een School while they performed the Fajr (dawn) prayer on Saturday, killing at least 100 people, said the Government Media Office in Gaza. “This meant a large number of casualties.”

Hamas called on the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to hold an urgent meeting and take decisions that lead to an end to the Israeli aggression and genocide against civilians in the Gaza Strip. It also called for all political, commercial or normalisation relations with the occupation state to be severed.

The movement stressed the need to implement the clauses of the final statement of the Arab-Islamic Summit, held on 11 November last year in Riyadh, which called for action to break the siege on the Gaza Strip and impose the entry of humanitarian aid convoys.

Hamas has also called on the UN Security Council to hold an urgent session and take the necessary decisions outlined in Chapter 7 of the UN Charter pertaining to the Council’s powers to maintain peace, including economic and political sanctions and military action. It explained that the resultant resolution should compel the Israeli occupation to stop its aggression on the Gaza Strip, its genocide of the Palestinian people and its other “blatant violations” of international law. It warned that the Israeli regime’s practices threaten regional and international peace and stability.

“Moreover, the Security Council should act immediately to compel the occupation [state, Israel] to implement the council’s decision, which calls for a ceasefire and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the [Gaza Strip].”

The International Criminal Court (ICC), added Hamas, should shoulder its responsibilities for bringing the leaders of the Israeli occupation to trial and to hold them accountable for their crimes against innocent civilians. “We urge the establishment of an international investigative committee to confirm the full responsibility of the occupation government and military for the massacre at Al-Taba’een School and all other massacres against unarmed civilians,” added the resistance movement.

Despite appeals from mediators on Thursday to stop hostilities, and agree on a ceasefire and hostage exchange deal, Israel persists with its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip. The Israeli onslaught has killed nearly 39,800 people since last October following a cross-border incursion by the Palestinian resistance group.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which it denies. Its prime minister and defence minister also face possible arrest warrants being issued by the ICC, as do some Hamas officials.

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