The Malaysian police on Monday released computer-generated pictures of the two men behind the killing of a Palestinian Hamas weapons engineer on Saturday in Kuala Lumpur, reports said.&nbsp

The two unidentified men shot Fadi al-Batsh and engineering lecturer and also a Hamas drones and rocket expert, killing him on the spot, reports said. Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister said the suspects were believed to be linked to a foreign intelligence service.

The police department said that the men, who were on motorcycles, fired over 10 shots at the 35-year-old victim. While Hamas and Batsch’s family have pointed the finger at the Mossad, Mohamad Fuzi said it was too early to speculate.

Police Chief Mohamad Fuzi Bin Harun informed that alerts have been made at all country's exit points but said that it is likely that the men may have fled soon after the attack.&nbsp

The photographs of the suspects are based on descriptions by witnesses and not actual pictures saying that it could be possible that they were European&nbspor Middle Eastern, reports said.

Both suspects were on a high-powered, dark-colored motorbike which could be a BMW or a Kawasaki. Both were carrying backpacks and have on dark jackets and helmets, which likely obscured a direct photo of their faces.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi added the victim had links with foreign intelligence and was active in pro-Palestinian non-governmental organizations, describing him as an expert in electrical engineering and rocket-building.

The victim could have been seen as “a liability for a country that is an enemy of Palestine,” Zahid was quoted as saying by Bernama.

Hamas, which exercises de facto control over Gaza, said one of its members had been “assassinated” in Malaysia and it had sent a delegation to meet with Malaysian officials to discuss the killing.

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said Israel’s Mossad intelligence service had been behind past attempts to assassinate Palestinian scientists, and that al-Batsh’s killing “follows this sequence.”

Officials in Israel declined to comment.

Batsh’s uncle Jamal al-Batsh spoke to Reuters in the town of Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip.

 
&nbsp

The two unidentified men shot Fadi al-Batsh and engineering lecturer and also a Hamas drones and rocket expert, killing him on the spot

The Malaysian police on Monday released computer-generated pictures of the two men behind the killing of a Palestinian Hamas weapons engineer on Saturday in Kuala Lumpur, reports said. The two unidentified men shot Fadi al-Batsh and engineering lecturer and also a Hamas drones and rocket expert, killing him on the spot, reports said. Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister said the suspects were believed to be linked to a foreign intelligence service. The police department said that the men, who were on motorcycles, fired over 10 shots at the 35-year-old victim. While Hamas and Batsch’s family have pointed the finger at the Mossad, Mohamad Fuzi said it was too early to speculate. Police Chief Mohamad Fuzi Bin Harun informed that alerts have been made at all country's exit points but said that it is likely that the men may have fled soon after the attack. The photographs of the suspects are based on descriptions by witnesses and not actual pictures saying that it could be possible that they were European&nbspor Middle Eastern, reports said. Both suspects were on a high-powered, dark-colored motorbike which could be a BMW or a Kawasaki. Both were carrying backpacks and have on dark jackets and helmets, which likely obscured a direct photo of their faces. Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi added the victim had links with foreign intelligence and was active in pro-Palestinian non-governmental organizations, describing him as an expert in electrical engineering and rocket-building. The victim could have been seen as “a liability for a country that is an enemy of Palestine,” Zahid was quoted as saying by Bernama. Hamas, which exercises de facto control over Gaza, said one of its members had been “assassinated” in Malaysia and it had sent a delegation to meet with Malaysian officials to discuss the killing. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said Israel’s Mossad intelligence service had been behind past attempts to assassinate Palestinian scientists, and that al-Batsh’s killing “follows this sequence.” Officials in Israel declined to comment. Batsh’s uncle Jamal al-Batsh spoke to Reuters in the town of Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip.

Malaysia police releases pictures of suspects involved in Palestinian lecturer, Hamas shooting

Malaysian police on Monday released computer-generated photographs of two men suspected of gunning down a Palestinian man in Kuala Lumpur, adding that alerts have been put out for them at all the country's exit points.

Two men on a motorcycle fired at least 14 shots at Fadi al-Batsh, an engineering lecturer, in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, killing him on the spot.

Hamas, an Islamist militant group that rules the Gaza Strip, accused Israel's Mossad spy agency of assassinating Batsh, who they say was a member of their group. Israel dismissed the charge.

The photographs of the suspects are based on descriptions by witnesses, police chief Mohamad Fuzi Bin Harun told reporters.

They show two light-skinned suspects who may be European or Middle Eastern. Both men are about 180 cm with sturdy builds, the police chief said.

Both suspects are on a high-powered, dark-coloured motorbike which could be a BMW or a Kawasaki. Both are carrying backpacks and have on dark jackets and helmets.&nbsp;

The photos showed one suspect wearing a helmet and glasses.

A forensic examination found that the victim died of multiple injuries to his head and body. Fourteen bullets were found.

"We will send some of the bullets collected to our analysis experts to determine what kind of weapon was used in this heinous killing," Mohamad Fuzi said.

He said they were not sure whether the men were still in Malaysia.

"We cant close off our exits and we don't have any other information apart from the photofit," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Saturday the suspects were believed to be Europeans with links to a foreign intelligence agency.

Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman dismissed claims of Mossad's role in the murder and said it was likely that Batsh was killed as part of an internal Palestinian dispute.

Batsh's family has requested for his body to be buried in Gaza.

Mossad has been accused of several high-profile killings involving Palestinians around the world, although Israel has consistently denied the accusations.

The spy agency was accused of executing the murder of Hamas military commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in his hotel room in Dubai in 2010. In 2016, Hamas blamed Mossad for the killing of a Tunisian national it described as one of its drone experts.

In recent weeks, tensions have been running high at the Gaza-Israel border as Palestinians have ramped up protests demanding the right to return to homes that are now in Israel.

Israel's use of live fire, killing at least 35 Palestinians, has drawn international criticism. Israel says it is protecting its borders and takes such action when protesters come too close to the border fence.

Two men on a motorcycle fired at least 14 shots at Fadi al-Batsh, an engineering lecturer, in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. Hamas has accused Israel's Mossad of assassinating Batsh

Malaysian police on Monday released computer-generated photographs of two men suspected of gunning down a Palestinian man in Kuala Lumpur, adding that alerts have been put out for them at all the country's exit points. Two men on a motorcycle fired at least 14 shots at Fadi al-Batsh, an engineering lecturer, in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, killing him on the spot. Hamas, an Islamist militant group that rules the Gaza Strip, accused Israel's Mossad spy agency of assassinating Batsh, who they say was a member of their group. Israel dismissed the charge. The photographs of the suspects are based on descriptions by witnesses, police chief Mohamad Fuzi Bin Harun told reporters. They show two light-skinned suspects who may be European or Middle Eastern. Both men are about 180 cm with sturdy builds, the police chief said. Both suspects are on a high-powered, dark-coloured motorbike which could be a BMW or a Kawasaki. Both are carrying backpacks and have on dark jackets and helmets. The photos showed one suspect wearing a helmet and glasses. A forensic examination found that the victim died of multiple injuries to his head and body. Fourteen bullets were found. "We will send some of the bullets collected to our analysis experts to determine what kind of weapon was used in this heinous killing," Mohamad Fuzi said. He said they were not sure whether the men were still in Malaysia. "We cant close off our exits and we don't have any other information apart from the photofit," he said. Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Saturday the suspects were believed to be Europeans with links to a foreign intelligence agency. Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman dismissed claims of Mossad's role in the murder and said it was likely that Batsh was killed as part of an internal Palestinian dispute. Batsh's family has requested for his body to be buried in Gaza. Mossad has been accused of several high-profile killings involving Palestinians around the world, although Israel has consistently denied the accusations. The spy agency was accused of executing the murder of Hamas military commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in his hotel room in Dubai in 2010. In 2016, Hamas blamed Mossad for the killing of a Tunisian national it described as one of its drone experts. In recent weeks, tensions have been running high at the Gaza-Israel border as Palestinians have ramped up protests demanding the right to return to homes that are now in Israel. Israel's use of live fire, killing at least 35 Palestinians, has drawn international criticism. Israel says it is protecting its borders and takes such action when protesters come too close to the border fence.

Malaysia releases images of suspects in murder of Palestinian

According to reports, a man gunned down in Malaysia was a member of the Hamas militant group who made "important contributions" in the field of science.

A statement released by Hamas earlier today identified the man as Fadi al-Batsh and described him as a Palestinian engineer who was also a "loyal" Hamas member.

No further details on Batsh's scientific accomplishments were made available. The statement noted that Fadi al-Batsh had earlier participated in international forums in the field of energy.

Hamas noted that Batsh was "assassinated by the hand of treachery" while his relatives blamed his death on Israel.

According to the Malaysian police, Batsh, on his way to a mosque for his morning prayers, was gunned down by two people riding a motorbike. Batsh is believed to be related to a senior official in the Islamic Jihad militant group.

A statement released by Hamas earlier today identified the man as Fadi al-Batsh

According to reports, a man gunned down in Malaysia was a member of the Hamas militant group who made "important contributions" in the field of science. A statement released by Hamas earlier today identified the man as Fadi al-Batsh and described him as a Palestinian engineer who was also a "loyal" Hamas member. No further details on Batsh's scientific accomplishments were made available. The statement noted that Fadi al-Batsh had earlier participated in international forums in the field of energy. Hamas noted that Batsh was "assassinated by the hand of treachery" while his relatives blamed his death on Israel. According to the Malaysian police, Batsh, on his way to a mosque for his morning prayers, was gunned down by two people riding a motorbike. Batsh is believed to be related to a senior official in the Islamic Jihad militant group.

Man gunned down in Malaysia was 'important' member: Hamas

Israeli fighter jets targeted a Hamas "military target" in northern Gaza Monday in response to Palestinians infiltrating the border and laying bombs the previous day, the army said.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from Gaza.

The Israeli strike came a day after suspects crossed the northern Gaza border fence, leaving "explosive devices" that were found by the army.

The border fence between the Palestinian enclave and Israel has become the backdrop of mass Gaza demonstrations that lead to deadly clashes.

Israel has faced mounting questions over its use of live fire after 10 days of protests and clashes along the Gaza Strip border in which its forces have killed 30 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry.

Israel says it opens fire when necessary to stop damage to the border fence, infiltrations and attempted attacks.

It alleges Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip and with whom it has fought three wars since 2008, is seeking to use the protests as cover to carry out violence.

"The IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) views with great severity the Hamas terror organisation endeavours to turn the security fence parameter into a combat zone while attempting to damage security and defence infrastructure," the army said in its Monday statement.

Rights groups have harshly criticised Israeli soldiers' actions, and Palestinians say protesters are being shot while posing no threat to troops.

On Sunday, the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said she was opening a preliminary probe to determine whether there was enough evidence to launch a full-blown investigation into any alleged crimes committed by Israel or Hamas.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from Gaza

Israeli fighter jets targeted a Hamas "military target" in northern Gaza Monday in response to Palestinians infiltrating the border and laying bombs the previous day, the army said. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from Gaza. The Israeli strike came a day after suspects crossed the northern Gaza border fence, leaving "explosive devices" that were found by the army. The border fence between the Palestinian enclave and Israel has become the backdrop of mass Gaza demonstrations that lead to deadly clashes. Israel has faced mounting questions over its use of live fire after 10 days of protests and clashes along the Gaza Strip border in which its forces have killed 30 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry. Israel says it opens fire when necessary to stop damage to the border fence, infiltrations and attempted attacks. It alleges Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip and with whom it has fought three wars since 2008, is seeking to use the protests as cover to carry out violence. "The IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) views with great severity the Hamas terror organisation endeavours to turn the security fence parameter into a combat zone while attempting to damage security and defence infrastructure," the army said in its Monday statement. Rights groups have harshly criticised Israeli soldiers' actions, and Palestinians say protesters are being shot while posing no threat to troops. On Sunday, the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said she was opening a preliminary probe to determine whether there was enough evidence to launch a full-blown investigation into any alleged crimes committed by Israel or Hamas.

Israeli jets target Gaza position after 'infiltration attempt'

Tension remained high in the area a day after deadly violence broke out in one of the biggest Palestinian demonstrations there in years.

An Israeli military spokesman said he was checking the details of Saturday's unrest.

On Friday at least 15 Palestinians were killed by Israeli security forces confronting protesters, some of whom the military said had opened fire, rolled burning tyres and hurled rocks and fire bombs toward troops across the border.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared Saturday a national day of mourning and a general strike was called across the occupied West Bank. Thousands in Gaza marched through the streets at funerals for those killed.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians had gathered on Friday along the fenced 65-km (40-mile) frontier, where tents were erected for a planned six-week protest pressing for a right of return for refugees and their descendents to what is now Israel. The Israeli military estimate was 30,000.

Families brought their children to the encampments just a few hundred metres (yards) from the Israeli security barrier with the Islamist Hamas-run enclave. But hundreds of Palestinian youths ignored calls from the organisers and the Israeli military to stay away from the frontier and violence broke out.

Palestinians marking ''catastrophe''

The protest, organised by Hamas and other Palestinian factions, is scheduled to culminate on May 15, the day Palestinians commemorate what they call the "Nakba" or "Catastrophe" when hundreds of thousands fled or were driven out of their homes in 1948, when the state of Israel was created.

Israel has long ruled out any right of return, fearing an influx of Arabs that would wipe out its Jewish majority. It argues that refugees should resettle in a future state the Palestinians seek in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza. Peace talks to that end have been frozen since 2014.

Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005 but still maintains tight control of its land and sea borders.

Egypt also keeps its border with Gaza largely closed.

Abbas's spokesman, Nabil Abu Rdainah, said: "The message of the Palestinian people is clear. The Palestinian land will always belong to its legitimate owners and the occupation will be removed."

Israeli military spokesman Brigadier-General Ronen Manelis said Hamas was using the protests as a guise to launch attacks against Israel and ignite the area. He said violence would likely continue along the border until May 15.

"We won't let this turn into a ping-pong zone where they perpetrate a terrorist act and we respond with pinpoint action. If this continues we will not have no choice but to respond inside the Gaza Strip," Manelis told reporters in a phone briefing.

The Gaza Health Ministry had said on Friday 16 people were killed but revised the death toll to 15 on Saturday.

Israeli troops fired warning shots towards Palestinian youths gathered at the Gaza-Israel border on Saturday, wounding 13 people, health officials said

Tension remained high in the area a day after deadly violence broke out in one of the biggest Palestinian demonstrations there in years. An Israeli military spokesman said he was checking the details of Saturday's unrest. On Friday at least 15 Palestinians were killed by Israeli security forces confronting protesters, some of whom the military said had opened fire, rolled burning tyres and hurled rocks and fire bombs toward troops across the border. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared Saturday a national day of mourning and a general strike was called across the occupied West Bank. Thousands in Gaza marched through the streets at funerals for those killed. Tens of thousands of Palestinians had gathered on Friday along the fenced 65-km (40-mile) frontier, where tents were erected for a planned six-week protest pressing for a right of return for refugees and their descendents to what is now Israel. The Israeli military estimate was 30,000. Families brought their children to the encampments just a few hundred metres (yards) from the Israeli security barrier with the Islamist Hamas-run enclave. But hundreds of Palestinian youths ignored calls from the organisers and the Israeli military to stay away from the frontier and violence broke out. Palestinians marking ''catastrophe'' The protest, organised by Hamas and other Palestinian factions, is scheduled to culminate on May 15, the day Palestinians commemorate what they call the "Nakba" or "Catastrophe" when hundreds of thousands fled or were driven out of their homes in 1948, when the state of Israel was created. Israel has long ruled out any right of return, fearing an influx of Arabs that would wipe out its Jewish majority. It argues that refugees should resettle in a future state the Palestinians seek in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza. Peace talks to that end have been frozen since 2014. Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005 but still maintains tight control of its land and sea borders. Egypt also keeps its border with Gaza largely closed. Abbas's spokesman, Nabil Abu Rdainah, said: "The message of the Palestinian people is clear. The Palestinian land will always belong to its legitimate owners and the occupation will be removed." Israeli military spokesman Brigadier-General Ronen Manelis said Hamas was using the protests as a guise to launch attacks against Israel and ignite the area. He said violence would likely continue along the border until May 15. "We won't let this turn into a ping-pong zone where they perpetrate a terrorist act and we respond with pinpoint action. If this continues we will not have no choice but to respond inside the Gaza Strip," Manelis told reporters in a phone briefing. The Gaza Health Ministry had said on Friday 16 people were killed but revised the death toll to 15 on Saturday.

Israeli troops wound 13 on Gaza border, day after deadly protest

Clashes erupted as tens of thousands of Gazans marched near the Israeli border in a major protest on Friday, leaving 16 Palestinians dead and hundreds more wounded in the conflict's worst single day of violence since the 2014 Gaza war.

Late in the day, Israel's military targeted three Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip with tank fire and an air strike after what it said was an attempted shooting attack against soldiers along the border that caused no injuries.

Protesters, including women and children, had earlier gathered at multiple sites throughout the blockaded territory, which is flanked by Israel along its eastern and northern borders.

Smaller numbers approached within a few hundred metres (yards) of the heavily fortified border fence, with Israeli troops using tear gas and live fire to force them back.

Israeli security forces used a drone to fire tear gas toward those along the border, in one of the first uses of the device, a police spokesman said.

The health ministry in Gaza said 16 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces.

More than 1,400 were injured, including 758 by live fire, with the remainder hurt by rubber bullets and tear gas inhalation, it said.

Palestinians accused Israel of using disproportionate force, as did Turkey.

The UN Security Council was to hold closed-door talks about the situation in Gaza later today at the request of Kuwait, a diplomat said.

Egypt and Jordan, the only two Arab countries to have signed peace treaties with Israel, denounced the use of force against the protesters while the Arab League condemned what it called Israel's "savagery".

Israel's military alleged that the main protests were being used as cover by militants to either break through the border or carry out attacks.

"It is not a peaceful demonstration," an Israeli military official told journalists.

"There was no small number of attempts to damage the fence and cross" the border, she added.

The army said it estimated some 30,000 demonstrators were taking part in the protests.

"Rioters are rolling burning tyres and hurling firebombs and rocks at the security fence and at (Israeli) troops, who are responding with riot dispersal means and firing towards main instigators," it said.

Protesters were demanding hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees who fled or were expelled during the war surrounding Israel's creation in 1948 be allowed to return.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniya attended the protest, believed to be the first time he has gone so close to the border in years.

Hamas and Israel have fought three wars since 2008, the most recent of which in 2014 ended with a fragile truce.

Far smaller protests broke out in parts of the occupied West Bank.

On Friday evening, Gazan leaders called on protesters to retreat from the border area until Saturday, with the demonstration planned to last six weeks, until the inauguration of the new US embassy in Jerusalem around May 14.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas declared Saturday a day of national mourning.

In a later speech Friday he said he held Israel fully responsible for the deaths.

The upcoming embassy move has added to tensions surrounding the march.

US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital in December has infuriated Palestinians, who claim its annexed eastern sector as the capital of their future state.

The protest also began as Jewish Israelis were to mark the Passover holiday.

Israel announced a "closed military zone in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip," accusing its Islamist rulers Hamas of using the lives of civilians "for the purpose of terror".

It deployed reinforcements, including more than 100 special forces snipers, for fear of mass attempts to break through the security fence.

Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said in a tweet directed to Gazans in both Hebrew and Arabic that "Hamas's leadership is playing with your life".

Late in the day, Israel's military targeted three Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip with tank fire and an air strike after what it said was an attempted shooting attack against soldiers along the border that caused no injuries

Clashes erupted as tens of thousands of Gazans marched near the Israeli border in a major protest on Friday, leaving 16 Palestinians dead and hundreds more wounded in the conflict's worst single day of violence since the 2014 Gaza war. Late in the day, Israel's military targeted three Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip with tank fire and an air strike after what it said was an attempted shooting attack against soldiers along the border that caused no injuries. Protesters, including women and children, had earlier gathered at multiple sites throughout the blockaded territory, which is flanked by Israel along its eastern and northern borders. Smaller numbers approached within a few hundred metres (yards) of the heavily fortified border fence, with Israeli troops using tear gas and live fire to force them back. Israeli security forces used a drone to fire tear gas toward those along the border, in one of the first uses of the device, a police spokesman said. The health ministry in Gaza said 16 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces. More than 1,400 were injured, including 758 by live fire, with the remainder hurt by rubber bullets and tear gas inhalation, it said. Palestinians accused Israel of using disproportionate force, as did Turkey. The UN Security Council was to hold closed-door talks about the situation in Gaza later today at the request of Kuwait, a diplomat said. Egypt and Jordan, the only two Arab countries to have signed peace treaties with Israel, denounced the use of force against the protesters while the Arab League condemned what it called Israel's "savagery". Israel's military alleged that the main protests were being used as cover by militants to either break through the border or carry out attacks. "It is not a peaceful demonstration," an Israeli military official told journalists. "There was no small number of attempts to damage the fence and cross" the border, she added. The army said it estimated some 30,000 demonstrators were taking part in the protests. "Rioters are rolling burning tyres and hurling firebombs and rocks at the security fence and at (Israeli) troops, who are responding with riot dispersal means and firing towards main instigators," it said. Protesters were demanding hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees who fled or were expelled during the war surrounding Israel's creation in 1948 be allowed to return. Hamas leader Ismail Haniya attended the protest, believed to be the first time he has gone so close to the border in years. Hamas and Israel have fought three wars since 2008, the most recent of which in 2014 ended with a fragile truce. Far smaller protests broke out in parts of the occupied West Bank. On Friday evening, Gazan leaders called on protesters to retreat from the border area until Saturday, with the demonstration planned to last six weeks, until the inauguration of the new US embassy in Jerusalem around May 14. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas declared Saturday a day of national mourning. In a later speech Friday he said he held Israel fully responsible for the deaths. The upcoming embassy move has added to tensions surrounding the march. US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital in December has infuriated Palestinians, who claim its annexed eastern sector as the capital of their future state. The protest also began as Jewish Israelis were to mark the Passover holiday. Israel announced a "closed military zone in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip," accusing its Islamist rulers Hamas of using the lives of civilians "for the purpose of terror". It deployed reinforcements, including more than 100 special forces snipers, for fear of mass attempts to break through the security fence. Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said in a tweet directed to Gazans in both Hebrew and Arabic that "Hamas's leadership is playing with your life".

Clashes, 16 dead as thousands of Gazans march near Israel border

Israeli tanks hit two Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday after activists set fire to the base of the security fence on the volatile frontier, the army said.

The army said the two suspected arsonists had not crossed the fence and infiltrated Israel but it retaliated with tank fire against two Hamas observation posts.

"The (army) views with great severity any attempt to damage the security fence, as well as security infrastructure," it said.

The incident comes a day after Israeli soldiers detained three Palestinians who had slipped across the border from Gaza in possession of knives and grenades.

The army said the trio were apprehended near an army base some 20 kilometres (12 miles) inside Israel, while police distributed pictures of hand grenades, knives and wire cutters found on them.

There had already been an uptick in incidents along the border as Palestinian anger runs high over US President Donald Trump's decision in December to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

On Saturday, a number of Palestinians breached the frontier and tried to torch heavy equipment.

In response, Israeli jets attacked positions of Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza.

A day later gunfire from Gaza set off Israel's Iron Dome air defence system and in response a tank fired at a Hamas position.

The incidents come as Israel braces for the annual Palestinian Land Day protests, commemorating the killing of six unarmed Arab demonstrators in Israel in 1976, set to begin in Gaza on Friday.

Gazans are being called to march towards the border fence en masse.

Israeli tanks hit two Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday after activists set fire to the base of the security fence on the volatile frontier, the army said

Israeli tanks hit two Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday after activists set fire to the base of the security fence on the volatile frontier, the army said. The army said the two suspected arsonists had not crossed the fence and infiltrated Israel but it retaliated with tank fire against two Hamas observation posts. "The (army) views with great severity any attempt to damage the security fence, as well as security infrastructure," it said. The incident comes a day after Israeli soldiers detained three Palestinians who had slipped across the border from Gaza in possession of knives and grenades. The army said the trio were apprehended near an army base some 20 kilometres (12 miles) inside Israel, while police distributed pictures of hand grenades, knives and wire cutters found on them. There had already been an uptick in incidents along the border as Palestinian anger runs high over US President Donald Trump's decision in December to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital. On Saturday, a number of Palestinians breached the frontier and tried to torch heavy equipment. In response, Israeli jets attacked positions of Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza. A day later gunfire from Gaza set off Israel's Iron Dome air defence system and in response a tank fired at a Hamas position. The incidents come as Israel braces for the annual Palestinian Land Day protests, commemorating the killing of six unarmed Arab demonstrators in Israel in 1976, set to begin in Gaza on Friday. Gazans are being called to march towards the border fence en masse.

Israel strikes Hamas positions in Gaza: Army

Israeli forces on Sunday knocked out a tunnel in the Gaza Strip dug by Hamas militants to mount cross-border attacks, the military said.

The tunnel had been cut off during the 2014 Gaza war and Hamas had tried to put it back into operation, a military spokesman said. It had been dug inside the Hamas-ruled enclave several hundred metres away from Israel&#39;s border fence.

The Israeli forces did not cross the border to render the tunnel inoperable but used a new technique, Lieutenant-Colonel Jonathan Conricus told reporters.

&quot;We did not use explosives. It (the tunnel) was filled with a certain material, with a certain compound,&quot; Conricus said.

A spokesman for Hamas, the dominant Palestinian group in the Gaza Strip and Israel&#39;s arch foe, said the military was &quot;marketing fake achievements&quot; to boost the morale of soldiers and Israelis living near the enclave.

Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005 but still maintains tight control of its land and sea borders. Also citing security concerns, Egypt keeps its border with Gaza largely closed.

Israel last went public with an operation against a Gaza tunnel in the area in January, saying that the secret passage had also run through neighbouring Egypt.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military on Sunday announced that it destroyed two attack tunnels, one that entered Israeli territory and another inside the central Gaza Strip, the latest in a series of underground structures have been demolished by Israel in recent months.

The border-crossing tunnel destroyed early Sunday morning was located in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.&nbsp;

(with inputs from Reuters)

The tunnel had been cut off during the 2014 Gaza war and Hamas had tried to put it back into operation

Israeli forces on Sunday knocked out a tunnel in the Gaza Strip dug by Hamas militants to mount cross-border attacks, the military said. The tunnel had been cut off during the 2014 Gaza war and Hamas had tried to put it back into operation, a military spokesman said. It had been dug inside the Hamas-ruled enclave several hundred metres away from Israel's border fence. The Israeli forces did not cross the border to render the tunnel inoperable but used a new technique, Lieutenant-Colonel Jonathan Conricus told reporters. "We did not use explosives. It (the tunnel) was filled with a certain material, with a certain compound," Conricus said. A spokesman for Hamas, the dominant Palestinian group in the Gaza Strip and Israel's arch foe, said the military was "marketing fake achievements" to boost the morale of soldiers and Israelis living near the enclave. Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005 but still maintains tight control of its land and sea borders. Also citing security concerns, Egypt keeps its border with Gaza largely closed. Israel last went public with an operation against a Gaza tunnel in the area in January, saying that the secret passage had also run through neighbouring Egypt. Meanwhile, the Israeli military on Sunday announced that it destroyed two attack tunnels, one that entered Israeli territory and another inside the central Gaza Strip, the latest in a series of underground structures have been demolished by Israel in recent months. The border-crossing tunnel destroyed early Sunday morning was located in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. (with inputs from Reuters)

Israel says foiled Hamas bid to rebuild Gaza tunnel

Israeli warplanes hit Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip early on Monday after a rocket fired by Palestinians slammed into southern Israel, the army said.

It did not elaborate on the targets but Palestinian security sources said several missiles were fired at farmland east of Rafah in the south of the coastal enclave.

Israeli &quot;fighter jets targeted underground infrastructure in the southern Gaza Strip, in response to the projectile that was launched at Israel earlier,&quot; an army statement said.

No casualties were reported in either incident.

The strikes followed fierce exchanges over the weekend in which <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/israel-strikes-gaza-after-blast-wounds-four-soldiers-33212" target="_blank">Israeli ground forces killed two Palestinian teenagers</a> in the enclave in cross-border fire.

Warplanes also pounded 18 Hamas facilities in two waves of air strikes, according to the Israeli military.

Those raids were in response to an explosion Saturday in which four Israeli soldiers inspecting the border fence were injured by an apparent Palestinian booby trap.

Two of the men were severely wounded but their lives were not in danger, the army said.

The blast and the retaliatory fire marked one of the most serious escalations in the Hamas-ruled territory since the Islamist movement and Israel fought a war in 2014.

The strikes followed fierce exchanges over the weekend in which Israeli ground forces killed two Palestinian teenagers in the enclave in cross-border fire

Israeli warplanes hit Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip early on Monday after a rocket fired by Palestinians slammed into southern Israel, the army said. It did not elaborate on the targets but Palestinian security sources said several missiles were fired at farmland east of Rafah in the south of the coastal enclave. Israeli "fighter jets targeted underground infrastructure in the southern Gaza Strip, in response to the projectile that was launched at Israel earlier," an army statement said. No casualties were reported in either incident. The strikes followed fierce exchanges over the weekend in which Israeli ground forces killed two Palestinian teenagers in the enclave in cross-border fire. Warplanes also pounded 18 Hamas facilities in two waves of air strikes, according to the Israeli military. Those raids were in response to an explosion Saturday in which four Israeli soldiers inspecting the border fence were injured by an apparent Palestinian booby trap. Two of the men were severely wounded but their lives were not in danger, the army said. The blast and the retaliatory fire marked one of the most serious escalations in the Hamas-ruled territory since the Islamist movement and Israel fought a war in 2014.

Israeli warplanes hit Gaza again after new rocket attack

The Trump administration has <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/jerusalem-has-to-be-israels-capital-netanyahu-30855">put the head of Palestinian movement</a> Hamas, Ismail Haniya, on terror blacklist.

&quot;Haniya has close links with <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-jets-bombard-hamas-positions-in-gaza-28516">Hamas&#39; military wing and has been</a> a proponent of armed struggle, including against civilians,&quot; the State Department said in a statement.

The move will likely increase tensions in West Asia after President Trump last month recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Isreal and decided to move the American embassy to the holy city.

&quot;He has reportedly been involved in terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens. Hamas has been responsible for an estimated 17 American lives killed in terrorist attacks,&quot; the statement added.

Hamas which controls the Gaza Strip has been on the US terror blacklist since 1997.

The US decision to put Haniya&nbsp;on terror blacklist will not deter the group&#39;s &quot;resistance&quot; to Israel, Hamas&nbsp;said.

&quot;The American decision to include Ismail&nbsp;Haniya on the terrorist list is a failed attempt to pressure the resistance,&quot; Hamas said in a statement, adding,&quot;This decision will not deter us from continuing the resistance option to expel the occupation.&quot;

Hamas does not recognise Israel and has fought three wars against&nbsp;the Jewish state since 2008.

Last month the Isreali government had said that Hamas must disarm and recognise Israel under the Palestinian unity deal.

Hamas and Isreal have constantly exchanged fire across the border. In early January&nbsp;Israeli jets bombarded Hamas bases in Gaza in response to alleged rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave.

The move will likely increase tensions in West Asia after President Trump last month recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Isreal

The Trump administration has put the head of Palestinian movement Hamas, Ismail Haniya, on terror blacklist. "Haniya has close links with Hamas' military wing and has been a proponent of armed struggle, including against civilians," the State Department said in a statement. The move will likely increase tensions in West Asia after President Trump last month recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Isreal and decided to move the American embassy to the holy city. "He has reportedly been involved in terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens. Hamas has been responsible for an estimated 17 American lives killed in terrorist attacks," the statement added. Hamas which controls the Gaza Strip has been on the US terror blacklist since 1997. The US decision to put Haniya on terror blacklist will not deter the group's "resistance" to Israel, Hamas said. "The American decision to include Ismail Haniya on the terrorist list is a failed attempt to pressure the resistance," Hamas said in a statement, adding,"This decision will not deter us from continuing the resistance option to expel the occupation." Hamas does not recognise Israel and has fought three wars against the Jewish state since 2008. Last month the Isreali government had said that Hamas must disarm and recognise Israel under the Palestinian unity deal. Hamas and Isreal have constantly exchanged fire across the border. In early January Israeli jets bombarded Hamas bases in Gaza in response to alleged rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave.

US puts Hamas chief Ismail Haniya on terror blacklist

&nbsp;

By&nbsp;Spyros Sofos&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;Vittorio Felci*

Donald Trump&rsquo;s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and start preparations for the US to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to the contested city, has the potential to further inflame tensions across the Middle East.

Although this is not an unexpected move &ndash; Trump expressed his intention to do so during his electoral campaign &ndash; the decision breaks with years of precedent.

Trump&rsquo;s decision to move the embassy means he will not follow his predecessors by renewing a waiver on the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, which required the embassy to eventually be moved from Tel Aviv.

Since then, there has been a cross-party consensus in the US that any act which recognises the annexation of East Jerusalem by Israel and its designation as the country&rsquo;s capital would affect the fragile balance of power in the Middle East &ndash; and the ability of the US to promote its interests in the region. US diplomats have sought to tread carefully on this issue in one of the world&rsquo;s most treacherous political landscapes.

The Palestinian leadership condemned the move before Trump spoke, as did leaders from the Arab world and beyond. The announcement of the embassy move is likely to cause a wave of resentment among Palestinians in the occupied territories and the city itself, especially after two decades of stalemate in the peace process and deteriorating conditions throughout the Palestinian territories. Ahead of the speech, US citizens and government employees were told to avoid Jerusalem&rsquo;s Old City and the West Bank until further notice.

Central to the peace process

Jerusalem is not just a city of historical importance to Judaism, Islam and Christianity, but also a site key to both Israeli and Palestinian identity. Add to this the centrality of the status of Jerusalem in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, often described as one of the world&rsquo;s most intractable disputes, and it&rsquo;s clear why the decision to move the US embassy there has been described as tantamount to political arson.

At the political level, most Israelis and Palestinians insist that Jerusalem must be the capital of their states, present and future, and that this is non-negotiable. This is why the final status of Jerusalem was deemed to be one of the thorniest issues in the Oslo peace process in the 1990s. It was envisaged to be circumnavigated, dealt with only at the stage of &ldquo;permanent status negotiations&rdquo;, once all other issues between the state of Israel and the Palestinians were resolved.

As there has not been any progress in less important, yet substantive issues since Oslo, the issue of Jerusalem has acquired a symbolic importance among Palestinians.

Jerusalem is a city dense in symbolism in the Palestinian national imagination. Particularly so as other, more material anchors of identity such as territory, governance and self-determination are continually being eroded by the harsh realities of Israeli occupation, the blockade of Gaza and deteriorating cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian authorities.

The response to Trump&rsquo;s announcement by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and most of his government was muted. But its symbolic value among nationalist circles in Israel, and also among many ordinary Israelis, should not be underestimated.

The Israeli government has been active in strengthening Israeli claims to the entire city since its annexation in 1980. Settlement building around Jerusalem has aimed to ring-fence the city and integrate it more into Israel. Meanwhile, there were building restrictions in East Jerusalem, and a series of restrictions to Palestinian access to the Al-Aqsa mosque, built on the remnants of the last Jewish Temple. Both sets of restrictions were lifted.

Equally important in terms of symbolic politics has been Israel&rsquo;s archaeological intervention around Jerusalem, which Palestinians see as an attempt to strengthen Israel&rsquo;s historical connection with the city.

Wider significance

Trump&rsquo;s decision seems oblivious to the fragility of coexistence in the city between its Israeli and Palestinian inhabitants. It also ignores the significance of Jerusalem in Palestinian national identity and national aspirations, and the devastating impact on the future of a moribund peace process.

It has the potential of not only affecting the political ecology of a place where history is a matter of life and death, but could also cause a ripple effect much further afield. It can destabilise a Palestinian authority already deprived of legitimacy and an array of fragile Arab regimes. And it is likely to accentuate the enmity between Israel and Iran. Iran perceives such a move as a &ldquo;violation of Islamic sanctities&rdquo; and, together with Trump&rsquo;s revitalised alliance with Saudi Arabia, a clear sign of the US president&rsquo;s anti-Iranian stance.

Last but not least, it could further stoke the flames of anti-Western Islamic movements in the Muslim world and the West alike, which have always put Jerusalem and the Palestinian issue in a central position.

&nbsp;

*Vittorio Felci is Researcher, Centre for Middle Eastern Studies, Lund University

&nbsp;

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com/" rel="nofollow" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-trumps-recognition-of-jerusalem-as-the-capital-of-israel-means-for-the-middle-east-88722" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

<section>&nbsp;</section>

<h1>&nbsp;</h1>

It has the potential of not only affecting the political ecology of a place where history is a matter of life and death, but could also cause a ripple effect much further afield.

By Spyros Sofos & Vittorio Felci* Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and start preparations for the US to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to the contested city, has the potential to further inflame tensions across the Middle East. Although this is not an unexpected move – Trump expressed his intention to do so during his electoral campaign – the decision breaks with years of precedent. Trump’s decision to move the embassy means he will not follow his predecessors by renewing a waiver on the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, which required the embassy to eventually be moved from Tel Aviv. Since then, there has been a cross-party consensus in the US that any act which recognises the annexation of East Jerusalem by Israel and its designation as the country’s capital would affect the fragile balance of power in the Middle East – and the ability of the US to promote its interests in the region. US diplomats have sought to tread carefully on this issue in one of the world’s most treacherous political landscapes. The Palestinian leadership condemned the move before Trump spoke, as did leaders from the Arab world and beyond. The announcement of the embassy move is likely to cause a wave of resentment among Palestinians in the occupied territories and the city itself, especially after two decades of stalemate in the peace process and deteriorating conditions throughout the Palestinian territories. Ahead of the speech, US citizens and government employees were told to avoid Jerusalem’s Old City and the West Bank until further notice. Central to the peace process Jerusalem is not just a city of historical importance to Judaism, Islam and Christianity, but also a site key to both Israeli and Palestinian identity. Add to this the centrality of the status of Jerusalem in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, often described as one of the world’s most intractable disputes, and it’s clear why the decision to move the US embassy there has been described as tantamount to political arson. At the political level, most Israelis and Palestinians insist that Jerusalem must be the capital of their states, present and future, and that this is non-negotiable. This is why the final status of Jerusalem was deemed to be one of the thorniest issues in the Oslo peace process in the 1990s. It was envisaged to be circumnavigated, dealt with only at the stage of “permanent status negotiations”, once all other issues between the state of Israel and the Palestinians were resolved. As there has not been any progress in less important, yet substantive issues since Oslo, the issue of Jerusalem has acquired a symbolic importance among Palestinians. Jerusalem is a city dense in symbolism in the Palestinian national imagination. Particularly so as other, more material anchors of identity such as territory, governance and self-determination are continually being eroded by the harsh realities of Israeli occupation, the blockade of Gaza and deteriorating cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian authorities. The response to Trump’s announcement by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and most of his government was muted. But its symbolic value among nationalist circles in Israel, and also among many ordinary Israelis, should not be underestimated. The Israeli government has been active in strengthening Israeli claims to the entire city since its annexation in 1980. Settlement building around Jerusalem has aimed to ring-fence the city and integrate it more into Israel. Meanwhile, there were building restrictions in East Jerusalem, and a series of restrictions to Palestinian access to the Al-Aqsa mosque, built on the remnants of the last Jewish Temple. Both sets of restrictions were lifted. Equally important in terms of symbolic politics has been Israel’s archaeological intervention around Jerusalem, which Palestinians see as an attempt to strengthen Israel’s historical connection with the city. Wider significance Trump’s decision seems oblivious to the fragility of coexistence in the city between its Israeli and Palestinian inhabitants. It also ignores the significance of Jerusalem in Palestinian national identity and national aspirations, and the devastating impact on the future of a moribund peace process. It has the potential of not only affecting the political ecology of a place where history is a matter of life and death, but could also cause a ripple effect much further afield. It can destabilise a Palestinian authority already deprived of legitimacy and an array of fragile Arab regimes. And it is likely to accentuate the enmity between Israel and Iran. Iran perceives such a move as a “violation of Islamic sanctities” and, together with Trump’s revitalised alliance with Saudi Arabia, a clear sign of the US president’s anti-Iranian stance. Last but not least, it could further stoke the flames of anti-Western Islamic movements in the Muslim world and the West alike, which have always put Jerusalem and the Palestinian issue in a central position. *Vittorio Felci is Researcher, Centre for Middle Eastern Studies, Lund University This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: Trump recognised Jerusalem. How will it impact Middle East

Hamas must disarm and recognise Israel under a Palestinian unity deal announced on Thursday with its rival Fatah aimed at ending their decade-long split, an Israeli government official said.

&quot;Any reconciliation between the (Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority) and Hamas must include a commitment to international agreements and to the conditions of the Quartet, first of which is recognising Israel and demilitarising Hamas,&quot; the official said in the Israeli government&#39;s first reaction to the deal signed in Cairo.

The official was referring to the diplomatic Quartet on Middle East peace, which includes the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia.

The reaction was Israel&#39;s first after the two major Palestinian factions agreed on a unity deal in the Egyptian capital on Thursday afternoon, which is supposed to see the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority retake control of Gaza from Islamists Hamas by December 1.

The publicly-released parts of the agreement did not specify what would happen to Hamas&#39; armed wing.

Hamas does not recognise Israel and has fought three wars with the Jewish state since 2008.

&quot;As long as Hamas remains armed and as long as it calls for the destruction of Israel, Israel will consider Hamas responsible for any terror attack originating from Gaza,&quot; the official said.

He also demanded an immediate return of the bodies of two Israeli soldiers killed by Hamas in 2014, as well as the release of two citizens believed imprisoned by the Islamists.&nbsp;

Hamas does not recognise Israel and has fought three wars with the Jewish state since 2008

Hamas must disarm and recognise Israel under a Palestinian unity deal announced on Thursday with its rival Fatah aimed at ending their decade-long split, an Israeli government official said. "Any reconciliation between the (Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority) and Hamas must include a commitment to international agreements and to the conditions of the Quartet, first of which is recognising Israel and demilitarising Hamas," the official said in the Israeli government's first reaction to the deal signed in Cairo. The official was referring to the diplomatic Quartet on Middle East peace, which includes the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia. The reaction was Israel's first after the two major Palestinian factions agreed on a unity deal in the Egyptian capital on Thursday afternoon, which is supposed to see the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority retake control of Gaza from Islamists Hamas by December 1. The publicly-released parts of the agreement did not specify what would happen to Hamas' armed wing. Hamas does not recognise Israel and has fought three wars with the Jewish state since 2008. "As long as Hamas remains armed and as long as it calls for the destruction of Israel, Israel will consider Hamas responsible for any terror attack originating from Gaza," the official said. He also demanded an immediate return of the bodies of two Israeli soldiers killed by Hamas in 2014, as well as the release of two citizens believed imprisoned by the Islamists.

Hamas must disarm, recognise Israel under Palestinian unity deal: Israel

Israeli air strikes hit several targets in the Gaza Strip governed by Hamas overnight on Monday, AFP reported.

The incident comes after Israel targeted Syrian military installations over the weekend.

Israeli air strikes were recorded in at least three locations in Gaza, Palestinian security sources and eyewitnesses told Reuters.

The strikes were aimed at Hamas bases which struck near the southern city of Rafah and Gaza City, as well as open land southeast of Gaza City.

The Palestinian health ministry said there were no immediate reports of injuries, but an AFP photographer in Gaza saw at least one man bleeding being taken for treatment from a house near the base.

The Israeli army said the strikes were in &quot;response to projectile fire that hit near the Sha&#39;ar Hanegev Regional Council.&quot;

&quot;Two Israeli&nbsp;aircraft&#39;s targeted two military infrastructures belong to the Hamas terrorist organisation,&quot; it added.

Meanwhile, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has urged US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to prevent &quot;provocations&quot; against Syrian government forces.

Lavrov spoke to Rex Tillerson over the phone on Monday and called on &quot;Washington to take steps to prevent provocations against Syrian government forces carrying out operations against terrorists,&quot; a Russian foreign ministry statement said.

Israel had fired shells at Syria on Saturday as aerial video footage released by the military showed a machine gun and two tanks targeted and hit.&nbsp;

The Syrian military said Israeli rocket fire had hit a residential building but it could not be independently confirmed.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Israeli air strikes were recorded in at least three locations in Gaza

Israeli air strikes hit several targets in the Gaza Strip governed by Hamas overnight on Monday, AFP reported. The incident comes after Israel targeted Syrian military installations over the weekend. Israeli air strikes were recorded in at least three locations in Gaza, Palestinian security sources and eyewitnesses told Reuters. The strikes were aimed at Hamas bases which struck near the southern city of Rafah and Gaza City, as well as open land southeast of Gaza City. The Palestinian health ministry said there were no immediate reports of injuries, but an AFP photographer in Gaza saw at least one man bleeding being taken for treatment from a house near the base. The Israeli army said the strikes were in "response to projectile fire that hit near the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council." "Two Israeli aircraft's targeted two military infrastructures belong to the Hamas terrorist organisation," it added. Meanwhile, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has urged US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to prevent "provocations" against Syrian government forces. Lavrov spoke to Rex Tillerson over the phone on Monday and called on "Washington to take steps to prevent provocations against Syrian government forces carrying out operations against terrorists," a Russian foreign ministry statement said. Israel had fired shells at Syria on Saturday as aerial video footage released by the military showed a machine gun and two tanks targeted and hit. The Syrian military said Israeli rocket fire had hit a residential building but it could not be independently confirmed.

After hitting Syrian military installations, Israel targets Gaza Strip

Palestinian militant factions denied on Saturday a claim by Islamic State that three Palestinian men who carried out a fatal shooting and stabbing attack in Jerusalem were members of the militant group.

Islamic State took responsibility for the attack on Friday, in which one Israeli police officer was killed and another wounded, according to the group&#39;s Amaq news agency.

Israeli security officials did not respond immediately to requests for comment on what the SITE intelligence monitoring group described as the first time Islamic State had claimed responsibility for an attack in Israeli-controlled territory, nor on the attackers&#39; affiliation.

However, a senior official from Hamas, the Islamic group that rules the Gaza Strip, and the People&#39;s Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) said the three attackers, who were all shot dead at the scene, were their own members.

&quot;The three hero martyrs who executed the Jerusalem operation have no connection to Daesh (Islamic State), they are affiliated with the PFLP and Hamas,&quot; Hamas&#39; Izzat El-Reshiq wrote on Twitter.

The PFLP published a separate statement in which it identified two of the three attackers as members. &quot;The media office of the PFLP armed wing mourns two of its hero comrades, two freed prisoners,&quot; it said.

Israeli police said on Friday all the assailants were from Palestinian cities in the occupied West Bank. Two of the attackers, both from Ramallah, were between the ages of 18 and 19 and the third was a 30-year-old from Hebron, police spokeswoman Luba Simri said.

The assaults took place simultaneously in two areas near the Damascus gate of Jerusalem&#39;s walled old city.

Two Palestinians were shot dead after opening fire at and trying to stab a group of Israeli police officers at one scene, police said. At the other, a Palestinian fatally stabbed a border policewoman before being shot dead by police.

A wave of Palestinian street attacks began in October 2015 but has since slowed. Israel blames the violence on incitement by the Palestinian leadership.

The Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank, denies that and says assailants have acted out of desperation over Israeli occupation of land sought by Palestinians for a state.

U.S.-brokered peace talks between the sides broke down in 2014. Palestinians want to establish an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, territories Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East War.

Islamic State claimed responsibility first after which Hamas said the three attackers had been their men

Palestinian militant factions denied on Saturday a claim by Islamic State that three Palestinian men who carried out a fatal shooting and stabbing attack in Jerusalem were members of the militant group. Islamic State took responsibility for the attack on Friday, in which one Israeli police officer was killed and another wounded, according to the group's Amaq news agency. Israeli security officials did not respond immediately to requests for comment on what the SITE intelligence monitoring group described as the first time Islamic State had claimed responsibility for an attack in Israeli-controlled territory, nor on the attackers' affiliation. However, a senior official from Hamas, the Islamic group that rules the Gaza Strip, and the People's Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) said the three attackers, who were all shot dead at the scene, were their own members. "The three hero martyrs who executed the Jerusalem operation have no connection to Daesh (Islamic State), they are affiliated with the PFLP and Hamas," Hamas' Izzat El-Reshiq wrote on Twitter. The PFLP published a separate statement in which it identified two of the three attackers as members. "The media office of the PFLP armed wing mourns two of its hero comrades, two freed prisoners," it said. Israeli police said on Friday all the assailants were from Palestinian cities in the occupied West Bank. Two of the attackers, both from Ramallah, were between the ages of 18 and 19 and the third was a 30-year-old from Hebron, police spokeswoman Luba Simri said. The assaults took place simultaneously in two areas near the Damascus gate of Jerusalem's walled old city. Two Palestinians were shot dead after opening fire at and trying to stab a group of Israeli police officers at one scene, police said. At the other, a Palestinian fatally stabbed a border policewoman before being shot dead by police. A wave of Palestinian street attacks began in October 2015 but has since slowed. Israel blames the violence on incitement by the Palestinian leadership. The Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank, denies that and says assailants have acted out of desperation over Israeli occupation of land sought by Palestinians for a state. U.S.-brokered peace talks between the sides broke down in 2014. Palestinians want to establish an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, territories Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East War.

Israeli policewoman stabbing: Islamic State, Hamas fight to claim responsibility

Hamas&#39;s former chief in Gaza, Ismail Haniya, has been elected overall head of the Palestinian Islamist group, succeeding Khaled Meshaal, its official media announced Saturday.

Haniya, seen as a pragmatist within the movement, is expected to remain in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian enclave run by Hamas since 2007, unlike Meshaal who lives in exile in Doha and has completed the maximum two terms in office.

&quot;The Hamas Shura Council on Saturday elected Ismail Haniya as head of the movement&#39;s political bureau,&quot; the Hamas media said.

The 54-year-old with a salt-and-pepper takes charge of Hamas as it seeks to ease its international isolation while not marginalising hardliners within the movement.

On Monday, it unveiled a new policy document easing its stance on Israel after having long called for its destruction.

The document notably accepts the idea of a Palestinian state in territories occupied by Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967.

It also says its struggle is not against Jews because of their religion but against Israel as an occupier.

However, Hamas officials said the document in no way amounts to recognition of Israel as demanded by the international community.

(AFP)

Ismail Haniya will succeed Khaled Meshaal, the party said

Hamas's former chief in Gaza, Ismail Haniya, has been elected overall head of the Palestinian Islamist group, succeeding Khaled Meshaal, its official media announced Saturday. Haniya, seen as a pragmatist within the movement, is expected to remain in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian enclave run by Hamas since 2007, unlike Meshaal who lives in exile in Doha and has completed the maximum two terms in office. "The Hamas Shura Council on Saturday elected Ismail Haniya as head of the movement's political bureau," the Hamas media said. The 54-year-old with a salt-and-pepper takes charge of Hamas as it seeks to ease its international isolation while not marginalising hardliners within the movement. On Monday, it unveiled a new policy document easing its stance on Israel after having long called for its destruction. The document notably accepts the idea of a Palestinian state in territories occupied by Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967. It also says its struggle is not against Jews because of their religion but against Israel as an occupier. However, Hamas officials said the document in no way amounts to recognition of Israel as demanded by the international community. (AFP)

Former Gaza head Haniya is next Hamas leader

Human Rights Watch on Wednesday condemned the &quot;illegal&quot; detention of two Israeli citizens by Hamas, releasing new details about the men who are believed to be mentally ill.

The Islamist movement which runs Gaza is believed to have held Hisham al-Sayed and Avraham Mengistu since April 2015 and September 2014 respectively, after they sneaked into the blockaded Palestinian enclave.

Both men suffer from serious mental health issues, the report said.

Hamas media has claimed the two were soldiers, but HRW said Mengistu was rejected from Israel&#39;s military on medical grounds and Sayed was discharged after a few months.

HRW said a third Israeli citizen, Jumaa Abu Ghanima, entered Gaza in July 2016, but there is no further information on him and it is unclear if he was arrested or joined a militant group.

Hamas has never officially confirmed it is holding Sayed and Mengistu, but videos the group has published on social media have included their images.

The Islamist group, which took control of Gaza in 2007, has not released any details on their condition or allowed rights groups to visit them.

Israel bans its nationals from entering Gaza for security reasons.

HRW said Hamas is demanding the release of a number of its members from Israeli jails before it will release information about the men.

&quot;No demand can justify disappearing and bartering over the lives of men, particularly those with serious mental health conditions,&quot; said Omar Shakir, HRW director for Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Shakir said Hamas should either release the men or provide evidence of their alleged crimes.

&quot;While they are being detained they must treat them humanely and provide them with contact with their families,&quot; he told AFP.

Sayed&#39;s father Sha&#39;aban said his son, a Bedouin Muslim, has schizophrenia and had previously disappeared to Jordan and even Gaza multiple times, eventually being returned by the authorities.

&quot;We just want to ask Hamas why are they holding him? What is the reason?&quot; he told AFP.

&quot;They say he is a soldier, an officer, in the Israeli army. This is a lie.&quot;

Hamas did not immediately respond to AFP&#39;s request for comment.

HRW said Mengistu, an Israeli Jew of Ethiopian descent, climbed over a fence along the Gaza-Israel border to enter the enclave.

Sayed is believed to have walked across a relatively open area of the heavily fortified border.

Last year, old images of the two men appeared in a Hamas video along with pictures of two soldiers who they claim were kidnapped alive in the 2014 war with the Jewish state.

The Israeli army said the two soldiers were killed, but that Hamas has the bodies.

In 2011 Israel exchanged more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier Hamas had detained for five years.

Hamas and Israel have fought three wars since 2008.

(AFP)

The Islamist movement which runs Gaza is believed to have held Hisham al-Sayed and Avraham Mengistu since April 2015 and September 2014 respectively

Human Rights Watch on Wednesday condemned the "illegal" detention of two Israeli citizens by Hamas, releasing new details about the men who are believed to be mentally ill. The Islamist movement which runs Gaza is believed to have held Hisham al-Sayed and Avraham Mengistu since April 2015 and September 2014 respectively, after they sneaked into the blockaded Palestinian enclave. Both men suffer from serious mental health issues, the report said. Hamas media has claimed the two were soldiers, but HRW said Mengistu was rejected from Israel's military on medical grounds and Sayed was discharged after a few months. HRW said a third Israeli citizen, Jumaa Abu Ghanima, entered Gaza in July 2016, but there is no further information on him and it is unclear if he was arrested or joined a militant group. Hamas has never officially confirmed it is holding Sayed and Mengistu, but videos the group has published on social media have included their images. The Islamist group, which took control of Gaza in 2007, has not released any details on their condition or allowed rights groups to visit them. Israel bans its nationals from entering Gaza for security reasons. HRW said Hamas is demanding the release of a number of its members from Israeli jails before it will release information about the men. "No demand can justify disappearing and bartering over the lives of men, particularly those with serious mental health conditions," said Omar Shakir, HRW director for Israel and the Palestinian territories. Shakir said Hamas should either release the men or provide evidence of their alleged crimes. "While they are being detained they must treat them humanely and provide them with contact with their families," he told AFP. Sayed's father Sha'aban said his son, a Bedouin Muslim, has schizophrenia and had previously disappeared to Jordan and even Gaza multiple times, eventually being returned by the authorities. "We just want to ask Hamas why are they holding him? What is the reason?" he told AFP. "They say he is a soldier, an officer, in the Israeli army. This is a lie." Hamas did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment. HRW said Mengistu, an Israeli Jew of Ethiopian descent, climbed over a fence along the Gaza-Israel border to enter the enclave. Sayed is believed to have walked across a relatively open area of the heavily fortified border. Last year, old images of the two men appeared in a Hamas video along with pictures of two soldiers who they claim were kidnapped alive in the 2014 war with the Jewish state. The Israeli army said the two soldiers were killed, but that Hamas has the bodies. In 2011 Israel exchanged more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier Hamas had detained for five years. Hamas and Israel have fought three wars since 2008. (AFP)

Human Rights Watch condemns 'illegal' detention of two Israelis by Hamas

The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on Monday dropped its longstanding call for Israel&#39;s destruction, but said it still rejected the country&#39;s right to exist and backs &quot;armed struggle&quot; against it.

In a policy document presented in Doha by its leader Khaled Meshaal, Hamas also said it would end its association with the Muslim Brotherhood, a move apparently aimed at improving ties with Gulf Arab states and Egypt, which view the Brotherhood as a terrorist group.

Israel responded to the announcement by accusing Hamas of trying to &quot;fool the world&quot;, while the group&#39;s main Palestinian political rival, the Fatah faction of President Mahmoud Abbas, also reacted coolly to the policy shift.

The publication of the policy document comes two days before Abbas is due to visit Washington, and days after President Donald Trump told Reuters he may travel to Israel this month and sees no reason why there should not be peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

&quot;We don&#39;t want to dilute our principles but we want to be open. We hope this (document) will mark a change in the stance of European states towards us,&quot; Meshaal told reporters.

Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, said in the document it agreed to a transitional Palestinian state within the borders of 1967, when Israel captured Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem in a war with Arab states. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005.

&quot;Hamas advocates the liberation of all of Palestine but is ready to support the state on 1967 borders without recognising Israel or ceding any rights,&quot; said Meshaal, in a shift that brings Hamas more into line with the position of Fatah.

&quot;Terror Tunnels&quot;

Israel said the document aimed to deceive the world that Hamas was becoming more moderate.

&quot;Hamas is attempting to fool the world but it will not succeed,&quot; said David Keyes, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. &quot;They dig terror tunnels and have launched thousands upon thousands of missiles at Israeli civilians. This is the real Hamas.&quot;

Founded in 1987 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, the banned Egyptian Islamist movement, Hamas has fought three wars with Israel since 2007 and has carried out hundreds of armed attacks in Israel and in Israeli-occupied territories.

Many Western countries classify Hamas as a terrorist group over its failure to renounce violence, recognise Israel&#39;s right to exist and accept existing interim Israeli-Palestinian peace agreements.

Meshaal said Hamas&#39;s fight was not against Judaism as a religion but against what he called &quot;aggressor Zionists&quot;.

Fatah spokesman Osama al-Qawasme upbraided Hamas for taking decades to join Fatah in accepting a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, a position Hamas used to criticise Fatah for.

&quot;Hamas&#39;s new document is identical to that taken by Fatah in 1988. Hamas is required to make an apology to Fatah after 30 years of accusing us of treason for that policy,&quot; Qawasme said.

It remained unclear whether the document replaces Hamas&#39;s 1988 charter, which calls for Israel&rsquo;s destruction. Meshaal said the document would &quot;guide Hamas&#39;s daily political activity&quot;.

Abbas&#39;s Palestinian Authority has engaged in peace talks with Israel on the basis of seeking a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, although the last, US-mediated round collapsed three years ago.

There was no immediate comment on Monday from Egypt and Gulf Arab states to the Hamas document.

&quot;For Hamas ... it&#39;s a signal of their desire to align with conservative Sunni elements in the region and create some immunity (from Saudi pressure),&quot; said Beverley Milton-Edwards, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Doha Centre and author of a book on Hamas.

But while the document could strengthen Hamas&#39;s position in the Palestinian Territories and the Middle East, she said, it was unlikely to lead &quot;to any definitive swing in opinion in the group&#39;s favour in the United States or even Europe.&quot;

Meshaal said Hamas remained part of the Muslim Brotherhood&#39;s &quot;intellectual school&quot; but was &quot;an independent Palestinian organisation&quot;.

US-allied Arab states including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia classify the Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation. The 89-year-old Brotherhood held power in Egypt for a year after a popular uprising in 2011, but was then removed by the army after mass street protests.

The Brotherhood denies links with Islamist militants and advocates Islamist political parties winning power through elections, which Saudi Arabia considers a threat to its system of absolute power through inherited rule.

(Reuters)

Hamas dropped its longstanding call for Israel's destruction

The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on Monday dropped its longstanding call for Israel's destruction, but said it still rejected the country's right to exist and backs "armed struggle" against it. In a policy document presented in Doha by its leader Khaled Meshaal, Hamas also said it would end its association with the Muslim Brotherhood, a move apparently aimed at improving ties with Gulf Arab states and Egypt, which view the Brotherhood as a terrorist group. Israel responded to the announcement by accusing Hamas of trying to "fool the world", while the group's main Palestinian political rival, the Fatah faction of President Mahmoud Abbas, also reacted coolly to the policy shift. The publication of the policy document comes two days before Abbas is due to visit Washington, and days after President Donald Trump told Reuters he may travel to Israel this month and sees no reason why there should not be peace between Israel and the Palestinians. "We don't want to dilute our principles but we want to be open. We hope this (document) will mark a change in the stance of European states towards us," Meshaal told reporters. Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, said in the document it agreed to a transitional Palestinian state within the borders of 1967, when Israel captured Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem in a war with Arab states. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. "Hamas advocates the liberation of all of Palestine but is ready to support the state on 1967 borders without recognising Israel or ceding any rights," said Meshaal, in a shift that brings Hamas more into line with the position of Fatah. "Terror Tunnels" Israel said the document aimed to deceive the world that Hamas was becoming more moderate. "Hamas is attempting to fool the world but it will not succeed," said David Keyes, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "They dig terror tunnels and have launched thousands upon thousands of missiles at Israeli civilians. This is the real Hamas." Founded in 1987 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, the banned Egyptian Islamist movement, Hamas has fought three wars with Israel since 2007 and has carried out hundreds of armed attacks in Israel and in Israeli-occupied territories. Many Western countries classify Hamas as a terrorist group over its failure to renounce violence, recognise Israel's right to exist and accept existing interim Israeli-Palestinian peace agreements. Meshaal said Hamas's fight was not against Judaism as a religion but against what he called "aggressor Zionists". Fatah spokesman Osama al-Qawasme upbraided Hamas for taking decades to join Fatah in accepting a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, a position Hamas used to criticise Fatah for. "Hamas's new document is identical to that taken by Fatah in 1988. Hamas is required to make an apology to Fatah after 30 years of accusing us of treason for that policy," Qawasme said. It remained unclear whether the document replaces Hamas's 1988 charter, which calls for Israel’s destruction. Meshaal said the document would "guide Hamas's daily political activity". Abbas's Palestinian Authority has engaged in peace talks with Israel on the basis of seeking a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, although the last, US-mediated round collapsed three years ago. There was no immediate comment on Monday from Egypt and Gulf Arab states to the Hamas document. "For Hamas ... it's a signal of their desire to align with conservative Sunni elements in the region and create some immunity (from Saudi pressure)," said Beverley Milton-Edwards, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Doha Centre and author of a book on Hamas. But while the document could strengthen Hamas's position in the Palestinian Territories and the Middle East, she said, it was unlikely to lead "to any definitive swing in opinion in the group's favour in the United States or even Europe." Meshaal said Hamas remained part of the Muslim Brotherhood's "intellectual school" but was "an independent Palestinian organisation". US-allied Arab states including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia classify the Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation. The 89-year-old Brotherhood held power in Egypt for a year after a popular uprising in 2011, but was then removed by the army after mass street protests. The Brotherhood denies links with Islamist militants and advocates Islamist political parties winning power through elections, which Saudi Arabia considers a threat to its system of absolute power through inherited rule. (Reuters)

Hamas softens stance on Israel ahead of Mahmoud Abbas's meeting with Trump

By: Anchal Vohra

Jerusalem is the heart of Israel and Palestine and it beats at the Temple Mount, as Jews call it, or Haram esh-sharif, as Muslims refer to it. A confluence of the three biggest monotheistic religions, this is&nbsp;where Abraham attempted to sacrifice his son Issac before God&#39;s&nbsp;last second intervention. Crusaders turned&nbsp;it into a church. The third-most revered site in Islam, it is here that Allah asked the prophet to look at Kaaba. Hence, jurisdiction over this edifice is a highly sensitive matter. 
&nbsp; 
East Jerusalem is the home of the Dome of the Rock. In possession of the Western part, Israel annexed the East from Jordan in and since then, to keep the peace, Jordan manages Al Aqsa mosque&#39;s affairs through a waqf board. 
&nbsp; 
But now, Donald Trump says he will move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which in effect is America&rsquo;s strongest acknowledgment of Jerusalem being Israel&rsquo;s capital.

To find out what the Palestinians are thinking, I travelled to Ramallah, barely a fifteen&nbsp;minute&nbsp;drive from Jerusalem, but an hour-long wait at the check point.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
A city within a city, the thick cement wall divides Israel from Palestine, and boards warn Israelis from entering the enemy territory. 
Inside, the wall is decorated with&nbsp;grafitti about&nbsp;the Palestinian movement and sketches of the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation leader, Yasser Arafat.&nbsp;

Jerusalem doesn&#39;t belong to Israel, says Abel Taqz, a member of the Palestinian People&#39;s Party, which played a big role in the first Palestinian intifada. Taqz is furious at Donald Trump for wanting to shift the embassy. He says this would end the peace process and the two-nation solution would lose all meaning. 
&nbsp; 
His room is decorated with revolutionary posters. One of them depicts a tree with long roots. Taqz explains, &quot;This shows our roots are deep.&quot; Taqz&#39;s intention is to let Trump know that Palestinians haven&#39;t forgotten their roots. The threat is a veiled concern. He fears the new American president may bring chaos upon the region. 
&nbsp; 
&quot;If Palestinian people lose hope of a two-state solution...And Israel is not willing to solve the problem and keep building settlements in Palestinian lands, it means there will be no hope for the people. And when people lose hope, anything can happen. Palestinian problem is the core issue of conflict in the Middle East and there is a danger of religious wars in the region. If Donald Trump supports Netanyahu&#39;s plans for a Jewish state, other islamic nations will support an Islamic state in Palestine. This will redirect the whole issue from political to a religious one and this can only result in a violent war, which will affect countries well beyond these two nations&quot;, he said.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Of the two parties, Fatah and Hamas, both agree that there will be violence if the US takes this step. But the ruling party, Fatah has a different plan to take on the might of the US. 
&nbsp; 
A party member Amin Shooman says, &quot;In Syria after Russia entered, it ended the war in Aleppo and everything is good now. We hope what happened in Syria, happens in West Bank and Putin stands with the Palestinians and demands from Trump that he doesn&#39;t move the embassy to Jerusalem.&quot;&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Russia has already been trying to bring the two Palestinian factions,&nbsp;Fatah in Ramallah and Hamas in Gaza Strip,&nbsp;together. 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Fayez Warda, a Hamas leader who has been arrested several times both by the Israelis and Fatah, says, &ldquo;Our view of Russia is different from America. We look at Russia as a friend and they are holding reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah.&rdquo; 
&nbsp; 
It is evident Russia is being seen as a formidable power in the region. After the Syrian success, the Palestinians want Russia to play a much bigger role in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Palestinian parties want Russia to take on Israel and the US on its behalf. Will Russia give in to the dream of regional hegemony or use this as leverage to crack a deal with the United States for economic purposes?&nbsp;

Trump called Netanyahu within days of taking power and even though he held on to the announcement of moving the embassy, soon after the phone call Israel restarted work on settlements in east Jerusalem.

(WION)

Donald Trump says he will move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, making Hamas and Fatah very angry

By: Anchal Vohra Jerusalem is the heart of Israel and Palestine and it beats at the Temple Mount, as Jews call it, or Haram esh-sharif, as Muslims refer to it. A confluence of the three biggest monotheistic religions, this is where Abraham attempted to sacrifice his son Issac before God's last second intervention. Crusaders turned it into a church. The third-most revered site in Islam, it is here that Allah asked the prophet to look at Kaaba. Hence, jurisdiction over this edifice is a highly sensitive matter. East Jerusalem is the home of the Dome of the Rock. In possession of the Western part, Israel annexed the East from Jordan in and since then, to keep the peace, Jordan manages Al Aqsa mosque's affairs through a waqf board. But now, Donald Trump says he will move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which in effect is America’s strongest acknowledgment of Jerusalem being Israel’s capital. To find out what the Palestinians are thinking, I travelled to Ramallah, barely a fifteen minute drive from Jerusalem, but an hour-long wait at the check point. A city within a city, the thick cement wall divides Israel from Palestine, and boards warn Israelis from entering the enemy territory. Inside, the wall is decorated with grafitti about the Palestinian movement and sketches of the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation leader, Yasser Arafat. Jerusalem doesn't belong to Israel, says Abel Taqz, a member of the Palestinian People's Party, which played a big role in the first Palestinian intifada. Taqz is furious at Donald Trump for wanting to shift the embassy. He says this would end the peace process and the two-nation solution would lose all meaning. His room is decorated with revolutionary posters. One of them depicts a tree with long roots. Taqz explains, "This shows our roots are deep." Taqz's intention is to let Trump know that Palestinians haven't forgotten their roots. The threat is a veiled concern. He fears the new American president may bring chaos upon the region. "If Palestinian people lose hope of a two-state solution...And Israel is not willing to solve the problem and keep building settlements in Palestinian lands, it means there will be no hope for the people. And when people lose hope, anything can happen. Palestinian problem is the core issue of conflict in the Middle East and there is a danger of religious wars in the region. If Donald Trump supports Netanyahu's plans for a Jewish state, other islamic nations will support an Islamic state in Palestine. This will redirect the whole issue from political to a religious one and this can only result in a violent war, which will affect countries well beyond these two nations", he said. Of the two parties, Fatah and Hamas, both agree that there will be violence if the US takes this step. But the ruling party, Fatah has a different plan to take on the might of the US. A party member Amin Shooman says, "In Syria after Russia entered, it ended the war in Aleppo and everything is good now. We hope what happened in Syria, happens in West Bank and Putin stands with the Palestinians and demands from Trump that he doesn't move the embassy to Jerusalem." Russia has already been trying to bring the two Palestinian factions, Fatah in Ramallah and Hamas in Gaza Strip, together. Fayez Warda, a Hamas leader who has been arrested several times both by the Israelis and Fatah, says, “Our view of Russia is different from America. We look at Russia as a friend and they are holding reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah.” It is evident Russia is being seen as a formidable power in the region. After the Syrian success, the Palestinians want Russia to play a much bigger role in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Palestinian parties want Russia to take on Israel and the US on its behalf. Will Russia give in to the dream of regional hegemony or use this as leverage to crack a deal with the United States for economic purposes? Trump called Netanyahu within days of taking power and even though he held on to the announcement of moving the embassy, soon after the phone call Israel restarted work on settlements in east Jerusalem. (WION)

Ramallah warns of a religious war, rakes up Russia

Israel will undergo a four-day civil defence drill from Sunday onwards to prepare itself for a possible war in future. 
 
The drill will take into account the fact that 1,500 rockets are estimated to bombard the country every day if there&#39;s a possible war any time soon.&nbsp; 
 
The civil defence drill is to ensure the public remains unharmed during any such eventuality. 
 
The rockets could be launched simultaneously by Lebanon&#39;s Hezbollah and Hamas in&nbsp;Gaza. 
 
Although Hamas&#39; threat eroded&nbsp;considerably after the 2014 Gaza war with Israel, it still has thousands of rockets in its arsenal. Hezbollah, the other hand, has at least 100,000 in its armoury, unnamed military sources told AFP. 
 
The civil-defence drill gained importance after the 2006 war with Hezbollah. The militant group&#39;s relentless&nbsp;bombardment&nbsp;raised questions about Israel&#39;s preparedness to protect its civilians. 
 
Hezbollah rockets had killed 43 civilians and 12 soldiers during the 34-day war. 
 
Since then, Israel has tightened its air defence system. They operationalised Iron Dome in 2011. Iron Dome is capable of intercepting short-range rockets fired from 4 km to 70 km away. 
 
Military sources say that only 1 per cent of rockets can now strike a civilian building. 
 
The Home Front Command &mdash; the agency responsible for the drill&nbsp;&mdash;&nbsp;has also strengthened its rocket alert system since the 2006 war. The system alerts civilians to run for safety if a rocket is heading in their direction.&nbsp; 
 
Now, people in Tel Aviv have a minute&#39;s time to run to the closest bomb shelter if the alert siren is sounded.&nbsp; 
 
The siren will be sounded across the country over the four days of the drill. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

The army expects 1,500 rockets crashing into the country every day in any future conflagration

Israel will undergo a four-day civil defence drill from Sunday onwards to prepare itself for a possible war in future. The drill will take into account the fact that 1,500 rockets are estimated to bombard the country every day if there's a possible war any time soon. The civil defence drill is to ensure the public remains unharmed during any such eventuality. The rockets could be launched simultaneously by Lebanon's Hezbollah and Hamas in Gaza. Although Hamas' threat eroded considerably after the 2014 Gaza war with Israel, it still has thousands of rockets in its arsenal. Hezbollah, the other hand, has at least 100,000 in its armoury, unnamed military sources told AFP. The civil-defence drill gained importance after the 2006 war with Hezbollah. The militant group's relentless bombardment raised questions about Israel's preparedness to protect its civilians. Hezbollah rockets had killed 43 civilians and 12 soldiers during the 34-day war. Since then, Israel has tightened its air defence system. They operationalised Iron Dome in 2011. Iron Dome is capable of intercepting short-range rockets fired from 4 km to 70 km away. Military sources say that only 1 per cent of rockets can now strike a civilian building. The Home Front Command — the agency responsible for the drill — has also strengthened its rocket alert system since the 2006 war. The system alerts civilians to run for safety if a rocket is heading in their direction. Now, people in Tel Aviv have a minute's time to run to the closest bomb shelter if the alert siren is sounded. The siren will be sounded across the country over the four days of the drill. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Israel gears up to tackle thousands of rockets in future war

Israel on Thursday rejected the United Nations&#39; request to release its staffer charged with aiding Palestinian militant outfit Hamas on the grounds that he enjoyed diplomatic immunity. 
 
In early August, an Israeli court had charged the 38-year-old Palestinian engineer with diverting 300 tons of rubble from a UNDP project in Gaza to build a jetty for Hamas. 
 
Israeli ambassador Danny Danon said the UN office of legal affairs had issued a formal letter requesting the release of Waheed Borsh, who worked for the UN Development Program (UNDP). He also asked the UN to carry out a comprehensive review of its aid programs in Gaza, to ensure that funding and employees &quot;fulfill the purpose of aiding the residents of Gaza and not fund terror activities.&quot; 
 
&quot;We do not grant immunity to terrorists trying to harm our citizens,&quot; Danon said in response to the letter. 
 
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<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The United Nations had argued that Borsh, as a UN employee, enjoyed immunity from arrest and from legal process, and requested that its officials be allowed to visit him in jail." target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
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&quot;Israel operates according to the law, and we continue to do so in this case as well,&quot; he said in a statement from the Israeli mission to the United Nations. 
 
The United Nations had argued that Borsh, as a UN employee, enjoyed immunity from arrest and from legal process, and requested that its officials be allowed to visit him in jail. 
 
After reviewing the charge sheet, the UNDP had challenged Israel&#39;s allegations and had said on Saturday that Borsh diverted the rubble under instructions from the Palestinian Authority. 
 
Israel has long alleged that aid has been diverted to Hamas which has controlled Gaza since 2007, claims rejected by non-governmental organisations and the UN. 
 
However, the UN says that more than two-thirds of the population of the Gaza Strip, which Israel has blockaded for a decade, are reliant on some form of aid, according to the United Nations.

(WION with inputs from AFP) 
 
 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

'We do not grant immunity to terrorists trying to harm our citizens,' Israeli ambassador Danny Danon told the United Nations

Israel on Thursday rejected the United Nations' request to release its staffer charged with aiding Palestinian militant outfit Hamas on the grounds that he enjoyed diplomatic immunity. In early August, an Israeli court had charged the 38-year-old Palestinian engineer with diverting 300 tons of rubble from a UNDP project in Gaza to build a jetty for Hamas. Israeli ambassador Danny Danon said the UN office of legal affairs had issued a formal letter requesting the release of Waheed Borsh, who worked for the UN Development Program (UNDP). He also asked the UN to carry out a comprehensive review of its aid programs in Gaza, to ensure that funding and employees "fulfill the purpose of aiding the residents of Gaza and not fund terror activities." "We do not grant immunity to terrorists trying to harm our citizens," Danon said in response to the letter. The United Nations had argued that Borsh, as a UN employee, enjoyed immunity from arrest and from legal process, and requested that its officials be allowed to visit him in jail. "Israel operates according to the law, and we continue to do so in this case as well," he said in a statement from the Israeli mission to the United Nations. The United Nations had argued that Borsh, as a UN employee, enjoyed immunity from arrest and from legal process, and requested that its officials be allowed to visit him in jail. After reviewing the charge sheet, the UNDP had challenged Israel's allegations and had said on Saturday that Borsh diverted the rubble under instructions from the Palestinian Authority. Israel has long alleged that aid has been diverted to Hamas which has controlled Gaza since 2007, claims rejected by non-governmental organisations and the UN. However, the UN says that more than two-thirds of the population of the Gaza Strip, which Israel has blockaded for a decade, are reliant on some form of aid, according to the United Nations. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Israel rejects UN appeal to release Gaza employee accused of aiding Hamas

In the run up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s visit to the Palestinian territories and Israel, Khaled Mashal, chief of the Hamas, which is in power in Gaza, had recently met a select group of Indian journalists. In a free-wheeling tete-a-tete with Iftikhar Gilani, the leader of the controversial Hamas, which had been engaged in a pitched armed battle against Tel Avivi, Mashal addresses the issue of terrorism and the intricacies of West Asian politics in a candid fashion. 
&nbsp; 
 
Excerpts from the interview: 
 
Across the world, there seems to be no scope for resistance movements, particularly those engaged in armed struggles. They are now bracketed with terrorist groups, and there is global hostility against terrorism. How is Hamas holding itself up in this new geo-strategic environment? 
Yes, it is a difficult situation for any resistance movement. Refusing to distinguishing between resistance and terrorism reveals more about people and super-powers who have double standards. Despite the difficulties, people who are seeking to restore their freedoms will not submit to these double standards and propaganda. We are a national resistance movement, not a terrorist organisation. We have the right to resist occupation. We have gained legitimacy because of our election victory. We are not random killing machines like terrorists. We are confining our battle against the occupier and within the borders of Palestine. This struggle against occupation has legitimacy in international law, and it also has been recognised in all faiths. If this is terrorism, how will you classify Vietnamese resistance, the South African fight against apartheid, the French struggle against Nazis, and the Indian resistance against British and so on... 
 
But the European Union and many other countries have declared Hamas and its military wing as a terrorist organisation? 
Hamas believes in moderate Islam. We are against extremist movements, whether they are Islamic, Christian, Jewish or non-religious. We believe that terrorism has no religion, no faith. Some super powers do classify Hamas with terrorist groups, but we are steadfast in our belief. We firmly believe in our rights. Nelson Mandela was tagged as a terrorist. And then he was received all over the world as freedom fighter. Yasser Arafat was also dubbed a terrorist. But then he was received as a freedom fighter. These labels don&rsquo;t bother us. Our history shows that we had never engaged in random killing sprees of either occupiers or settlers. 
 
India had submitted a draft of Convention Against Terrorism at the United Nations way back in 1996. But of late, because of robust diplomacy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is finding many takers in global community. The draft doesn&#39;t make a difference between a resistance movement and terrorist groups. 
Let me take advantage of this opportunity to send a message to the Indian public here. India has a long history of standing with us. I just appeal to both people and government there to know the difference between resistance movement and terrorism. I call upon you not to get carried away by deceptive propaganda of Israel and some vested interests in the international community, and continue to support Palestine rights. Our resistance is against occupation. We are not terrorists, blind killers. We are victims of Israeli occupation and their terrorism. We are hopeful of India as your PM had started his outreach from West Asia. He has visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and Iran. He must have gained a clear picture of Palestine struggle by now. 
 
You have often stated that you don&rsquo;t recognise Israel. But Israel is a reality. If you don&rsquo;t accept the two-state formula, then what is the way forward? 
The last 25 years have shown us that waiting for a solution from an occupier and the international community is a mirage. The main lesson is unless people take their rights into their own hands, nobody listens to you. No one else will give you your rights. When people are keen to fight for their freedom and rights, they will get it. It is a matter of time. The best example is that of India, where the occupier was even more powerful. 
 
On the two-state solution, I must tell you Hamas believes that we have full rights over the whole land and we don&rsquo;t recognise occupation. Our fathers and grandfathers lived there. Hamas is also very much keen on a unified Palestine front. That is why we have accepted a joint Arab and Palestine programme, based on 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital, with the right of return of Palestinians expelled during years by successive Israeli governments. 
 
On the one hand you don&rsquo;t recognise Israel&rsquo;s right to exist, and then you say Hamas is toeing a middle path. You also mention about the 1967 borders. Are these not contradictions? 
We are facing apartheid. Nobody can force us to treat Israel as friendly nation or a legitimate entity. All of this also doesn&#39;t mean that at a certain moment or at a proper moment, we will not negotiate with the enemy. Given the political circumstances, we are positive of achieving our national goal through political means. 
 
Hamas&rsquo; refusal to recognise Israel is not a stumbling block as you mentioned. The history is different. Yasser Arafat recognised Israel and he engaged in the peace process., But did Israel reciprocate his gesture? Mahmoud Abbas also recognised Israel. But did he succeed? He came up with nothing. Impasse in peace process is not because of us. The problem is not about recognising Israel. There are no shortcuts in a struggle. The main reason is occupation by Israel and its refusal to recognise the rights of the people. 
 
Is it possible for Israel and Palestine to co-exist for the sake of peace in the Middle-East? Is it acceptable to Hamas? 
When we get rid of occupation, we will shape our relations towards Israel. On several occasions, I gave the analogy of a person in custody. How can he decide his relations? Only a free people and a sovereign state can decide and shape its relations with another country. We will put any peace accord and our relations with Israel to a referendum. Hamas will respect the decision of the majority. Somebody may say we are making it difficult. But others had made it easier like Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas. So the problem doesn&rsquo;t lie on our side, not on Fatah&rsquo;s side and not even with Khalid Mashal. The problem is on the Israeli side. The master key is with Israel. They have to recognise our right. 
 
You have been involved in targeting Israeli civilians and allowing Al-Kasim Brigade to fire rockets? 
You should be clear about the picture we are facing. We have a difficult situation. We are not fighting against any race or any religion. We are fighting against occupation. We are not resisting Israel because they are Jewish, or that they are ethnically different from us. We lived side by side with Jews in Jerusalem for centuries. Hamas does not indulge in military acts around the world. We are confining our resistance against Israeli occupation within Palestinian borders. Its our right which has been acknowledged world over by international law and by all faiths. Our people are attacked and our land is occupied. We have a right to resist and fight back, and it is not terrorism. 
 
There is also an impression that Palestinians are fragmented and divided. No peace process can work with a fragmented movement. There is talk that Egypt has been mediating to arrange a meeting between Palestinian Authority leaders and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. 
We have an agreement with the other Palestinian factions. We have a joint programme. We are sticking to it and its a signed document called National Palestinian Accord Document, 2006. We are not against their engagement. But as I mentioned earlier also, this endavour is bound to fail. It did not succeed in the past 25 years. Israel is procrastinating to create new hurdles on the ground, and its focus is not on principles of negotiation but on taking its own time. They are actually exploiting our weakness. We have consensus on many things with other Palestinian groups. 
 
When President Obama took over, there was hope in Palestine. Now his term is at the fag end. Why has he failed to achieve peace in the Middle East? 
We have seen how Natanyahu insulted the American presidency many times. But surprisingly, it has not diminished the bias of the US administration towards Israel. They did nothing to reply to Israeli insults and they did not exert any pressure on it. 
 
Your neighbour Egypt has been in turmoil. After ouster of President Morsi, there are apprehensions in Egypt about Hamas. 
We believe Egypt is a big country and it is a pivot in the region. So whatever happens there affects us. But, we do not interfere in their domestic issues. We are very much keen to build a firm and strong network of relations in the region and world. We are relying on the depth of Arab and Muslim states. They are our strategic support. We are keen to expand our relations to other countries as well. We are garnering support from all over the world. 
 
Don&rsquo;t you think, that much bigger issues than Palestine have cropped up in Middle East, from Iraq, Syria, Libya and so on? 
Yes, there are crises in the region. They have taken away the limelight from Palestine. It has set new political priorities in the region and it has made our mission more difficult. And on the other hand, Israel is not also sitting idle. They are working overtime to use this opportunity to tear down Arab unity and exploit our weaknesses. They are waging a campaign against our people. The strategy of Hamas is to counter this. We feel the pain of the bloodshed. Our sympathy is with people in countries like Iraq, Syria. We are also pained at the sectarian conflicts in the region. We hope peace in the region will prevail, and that countries in the region will become democratic and pursue development. The situation which the super powers have created in the Middle-East has made it a fertile ground for terror groups. We are firmly against all extremist movements in the world, of whatever faith. We are against killing sprees. Regrettably, the superpowers are ignoring the main reason and the core issue that allows extremist phenomenon to get oxygen. They are creating an atmosphere for these groups to flourish and then they are using this phenomenon to colonise. 
 
There are allegations that Hamas and ISIS do share support base and weapons supplies. 
With the Palestine issue unresolved, occupation in Afghanistan and Iraq has sent out a message that the US is standing with enemy, and that it is inimical towards our rights. They are also giving support to authoritarian governments and dictatorships in the region at the expense of the interests of people who are looking for reforms and development of their own countries. Some of the superpowers not only support authoritarian regimes, but also practise sectarian killings. That has pushed some sections of the people into the hands of the ISIS, Al Qaeda and other extremist groups. They attract ignorant people who lack knowledge and who have no hope. In my belief, if occupation, colonialisation end, and people in the region are given their rights, this phenomenon will end. 
 
When you deny any link with ISIS, the siege of Yarmook camp says something different. The ISIS ran over the camp, while Hamas and Fatah abandoned the camp. And also the events in Sinai in Egypt have been traced to your doorsteps. 
I declare once again that Hamas doesn&#39;t have any link or truck with the ISIS, al Qaeda or any extremist outfit. This is against our conviction, our strategy and policies. The whole world should ask itself as to why there is no ISIS or al Qaeda inside Palestine? Such a phenomenon doesn&#39;t exist inside Palestine. And the reason is that Hamas and our brother resistance movements are national freedom movements. We have not left any vacuum. We don&rsquo;t receive any support or arms from these movements. We don&rsquo;t require their support. Our people have firm belief in moderate thinking. We don&rsquo;t take refuge in extremist ideology or indulge in killing spree. 
 
As far as incident in Yarmook camp is concerned, let me tell you this camp is inside Syria. The events there and presence of ISIS in the camp were influenced by events of Syria. It is a Syrian problem. As far as Sinai (Egypt) is concerned. Hamas has declared openly, it doesn&#39;t interfere in the domestic policies of Egypt. We have nothing to do what is happening inside Egyptian borders. All allegations of interference are baseless. 
 
You have mentioned about superpowers. Are you pointing towards Russia as well? What are your views about about Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s role in Yemen? 
There is no doubt that the US Administration have to take much of the blame because of its biased policy. Their policies towards the people in the region are due to other superpowers as well, and it is not necessary to name them. Foreign intervention against the interests of the people are recipe for a disaster. Their proxy wars are at the expense of lives of the people of the region. We are against these policies in any part of world. 
 
On Yemen, again I tell you, we have adopted a policy of not standing as judges and don&rsquo;t interfere in domestic polices of other countries. We are with the rights of the people. We stand firmly against the intervention in the region. We don&rsquo;t allow ourselves to be drawn into crises in the region or in any other part of world. 
 
Crises in Syria and Iraq have turned into Shia-Sunni conflicts. How, in your view, has this changed political dynamics of Middle East? 
This is very annoying and a matter of concern. Our region was a model for religious, ethnic and sectarian diversity, of people living together over hundreds of years peacefully despite differences. These sectarian crises came because of several reasons. The first factor is occupation in Afghanistan, Iraq, the dismantling of states and the creation of chaos in region. US treated Iraqi people along Shia, Sunni and Kurdish divisions. The second factor is the agenda of regional powers which exploited sectarian issues to serve their interests. 
 
Are you apprehensive about that the US and Iran are coming together? 
We had firm relations with Iran and Hizbullah. They supported our resistance. We are so grateful to them. But eruption of crises in Syria did affect us. Our relations with Iran were affected and people&rsquo;s perception towards Iran in this region has also got affected. This has more to do with how the region is now looking at Iran, more than its new-found relations with US. Iran&rsquo;s policies in the region affected perceptions. 
 
The Turkish government has also renewed its relations with Israel. Turkey has been your important supporter so far. 
As far as rapprochement of Turkey with Israel is concerned, that is their bilateral issue. During talks, they did place pre-conditions on lifting siege of Gaza. They made it a point. This is highly appreciable. Their relations with Israel have never affected our relations with Turkey. 
 
You are now about to complete your term as Hamas chief. What are your succession plans.?Most resistance movements the world over are personality-centric. 
We are an institutional movement. We apply democracy in our ranks. There are elections within our ranks. We are keen to set an example to abide by democratic principles. There will be a smooth transaction. The leadership will come up through ballots. It is not easy to practice democracy in a transparent way when you are under occupation. It is a challenge, but we are taking up this challenge. Given that we have divisions among ourselves, I assure you , we will keep up democratic traditions alive. 
 
Iran, Syria and Hizbullah supported you over many years. Syria hosted you also against all odds. But you deceived them. 
As far as Syria and Iran are concerned, truth is they gave us all support we needed over the years. We will never forget that. But that does not mean that whoever gave us support we will return that favours and we will get involved in their internal affairs and fight against their own people. That is what has happened in Syria. The government there was seeking our support to fight Opposition, their own people We stayed away from their internal crises, and so had to shift from Damascus. Our differences with them were not related to foreign aggression or foreign fighters. We are with them in the battle against ISIS and for foreign aggression. 
 
(This story was first published on DNA)

'Hamas believes in moderate Islam. We are against extremist movements, whether they are Islamic, Christian, Jewish or non-religious'

In the run up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Palestinian territories and Israel, Khaled Mashal, chief of the Hamas, which is in power in Gaza, had recently met a select group of Indian journalists. In a free-wheeling tete-a-tete with Iftikhar Gilani, the leader of the controversial Hamas, which had been engaged in a pitched armed battle against Tel Avivi, Mashal addresses the issue of terrorism and the intricacies of West Asian politics in a candid fashion. Excerpts from the interview: Across the world, there seems to be no scope for resistance movements, particularly those engaged in armed struggles. They are now bracketed with terrorist groups, and there is global hostility against terrorism. How is Hamas holding itself up in this new geo-strategic environment? Yes, it is a difficult situation for any resistance movement. Refusing to distinguishing between resistance and terrorism reveals more about people and super-powers who have double standards. Despite the difficulties, people who are seeking to restore their freedoms will not submit to these double standards and propaganda. We are a national resistance movement, not a terrorist organisation. We have the right to resist occupation. We have gained legitimacy because of our election victory. We are not random killing machines like terrorists. We are confining our battle against the occupier and within the borders of Palestine. This struggle against occupation has legitimacy in international law, and it also has been recognised in all faiths. If this is terrorism, how will you classify Vietnamese resistance, the South African fight against apartheid, the French struggle against Nazis, and the Indian resistance against British and so on... But the European Union and many other countries have declared Hamas and its military wing as a terrorist organisation? Hamas believes in moderate Islam. We are against extremist movements, whether they are Islamic, Christian, Jewish or non-religious. We believe that terrorism has no religion, no faith. Some super powers do classify Hamas with terrorist groups, but we are steadfast in our belief. We firmly believe in our rights. Nelson Mandela was tagged as a terrorist. And then he was received all over the world as freedom fighter. Yasser Arafat was also dubbed a terrorist. But then he was received as a freedom fighter. These labels don’t bother us. Our history shows that we had never engaged in random killing sprees of either occupiers or settlers. India had submitted a draft of Convention Against Terrorism at the United Nations way back in 1996. But of late, because of robust diplomacy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is finding many takers in global community. The draft doesn't make a difference between a resistance movement and terrorist groups. Let me take advantage of this opportunity to send a message to the Indian public here. India has a long history of standing with us. I just appeal to both people and government there to know the difference between resistance movement and terrorism. I call upon you not to get carried away by deceptive propaganda of Israel and some vested interests in the international community, and continue to support Palestine rights. Our resistance is against occupation. We are not terrorists, blind killers. We are victims of Israeli occupation and their terrorism. We are hopeful of India as your PM had started his outreach from West Asia. He has visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and Iran. He must have gained a clear picture of Palestine struggle by now. You have often stated that you don’t recognise Israel. But Israel is a reality. If you don’t accept the two-state formula, then what is the way forward? The last 25 years have shown us that waiting for a solution from an occupier and the international community is a mirage. The main lesson is unless people take their rights into their own hands, nobody listens to you. No one else will give you your rights. When people are keen to fight for their freedom and rights, they will get it. It is a matter of time. The best example is that of India, where the occupier was even more powerful. On the two-state solution, I must tell you Hamas believes that we have full rights over the whole land and we don’t recognise occupation. Our fathers and grandfathers lived there. Hamas is also very much keen on a unified Palestine front. That is why we have accepted a joint Arab and Palestine programme, based on 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital, with the right of return of Palestinians expelled during years by successive Israeli governments. On the one hand you don’t recognise Israel’s right to exist, and then you say Hamas is toeing a middle path. You also mention about the 1967 borders. Are these not contradictions? We are facing apartheid. Nobody can force us to treat Israel as friendly nation or a legitimate entity. All of this also doesn't mean that at a certain moment or at a proper moment, we will not negotiate with the enemy. Given the political circumstances, we are positive of achieving our national goal through political means. Hamas’ refusal to recognise Israel is not a stumbling block as you mentioned. The history is different. Yasser Arafat recognised Israel and he engaged in the peace process., But did Israel reciprocate his gesture? Mahmoud Abbas also recognised Israel. But did he succeed? He came up with nothing. Impasse in peace process is not because of us. The problem is not about recognising Israel. There are no shortcuts in a struggle. The main reason is occupation by Israel and its refusal to recognise the rights of the people. Is it possible for Israel and Palestine to co-exist for the sake of peace in the Middle-East? Is it acceptable to Hamas? When we get rid of occupation, we will shape our relations towards Israel. On several occasions, I gave the analogy of a person in custody. How can he decide his relations? Only a free people and a sovereign state can decide and shape its relations with another country. We will put any peace accord and our relations with Israel to a referendum. Hamas will respect the decision of the majority. Somebody may say we are making it difficult. But others had made it easier like Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas. So the problem doesn’t lie on our side, not on Fatah’s side and not even with Khalid Mashal. The problem is on the Israeli side. The master key is with Israel. They have to recognise our right. You have been involved in targeting Israeli civilians and allowing Al-Kasim Brigade to fire rockets? You should be clear about the picture we are facing. We have a difficult situation. We are not fighting against any race or any religion. We are fighting against occupation. We are not resisting Israel because they are Jewish, or that they are ethnically different from us. We lived side by side with Jews in Jerusalem for centuries. Hamas does not indulge in military acts around the world. We are confining our resistance against Israeli occupation within Palestinian borders. Its our right which has been acknowledged world over by international law and by all faiths. Our people are attacked and our land is occupied. We have a right to resist and fight back, and it is not terrorism. There is also an impression that Palestinians are fragmented and divided. No peace process can work with a fragmented movement. There is talk that Egypt has been mediating to arrange a meeting between Palestinian Authority leaders and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. We have an agreement with the other Palestinian factions. We have a joint programme. We are sticking to it and its a signed document called National Palestinian Accord Document, 2006. We are not against their engagement. But as I mentioned earlier also, this endavour is bound to fail. It did not succeed in the past 25 years. Israel is procrastinating to create new hurdles on the ground, and its focus is not on principles of negotiation but on taking its own time. They are actually exploiting our weakness. We have consensus on many things with other Palestinian groups. When President Obama took over, there was hope in Palestine. Now his term is at the fag end. Why has he failed to achieve peace in the Middle East? We have seen how Natanyahu insulted the American presidency many times. But surprisingly, it has not diminished the bias of the US administration towards Israel. They did nothing to reply to Israeli insults and they did not exert any pressure on it. Your neighbour Egypt has been in turmoil. After ouster of President Morsi, there are apprehensions in Egypt about Hamas. We believe Egypt is a big country and it is a pivot in the region. So whatever happens there affects us. But, we do not interfere in their domestic issues. We are very much keen to build a firm and strong network of relations in the region and world. We are relying on the depth of Arab and Muslim states. They are our strategic support. We are keen to expand our relations to other countries as well. We are garnering support from all over the world. Don’t you think, that much bigger issues than Palestine have cropped up in Middle East, from Iraq, Syria, Libya and so on? Yes, there are crises in the region. They have taken away the limelight from Palestine. It has set new political priorities in the region and it has made our mission more difficult. And on the other hand, Israel is not also sitting idle. They are working overtime to use this opportunity to tear down Arab unity and exploit our weaknesses. They are waging a campaign against our people. The strategy of Hamas is to counter this. We feel the pain of the bloodshed. Our sympathy is with people in countries like Iraq, Syria. We are also pained at the sectarian conflicts in the region. We hope peace in the region will prevail, and that countries in the region will become democratic and pursue development. The situation which the super powers have created in the Middle-East has made it a fertile ground for terror groups. We are firmly against all extremist movements in the world, of whatever faith. We are against killing sprees. Regrettably, the superpowers are ignoring the main reason and the core issue that allows extremist phenomenon to get oxygen. They are creating an atmosphere for these groups to flourish and then they are using this phenomenon to colonise. There are allegations that Hamas and ISIS do share support base and weapons supplies. With the Palestine issue unresolved, occupation in Afghanistan and Iraq has sent out a message that the US is standing with enemy, and that it is inimical towards our rights. They are also giving support to authoritarian governments and dictatorships in the region at the expense of the interests of people who are looking for reforms and development of their own countries. Some of the superpowers not only support authoritarian regimes, but also practise sectarian killings. That has pushed some sections of the people into the hands of the ISIS, Al Qaeda and other extremist groups. They attract ignorant people who lack knowledge and who have no hope. In my belief, if occupation, colonialisation end, and people in the region are given their rights, this phenomenon will end. When you deny any link with ISIS, the siege of Yarmook camp says something different. The ISIS ran over the camp, while Hamas and Fatah abandoned the camp. And also the events in Sinai in Egypt have been traced to your doorsteps. I declare once again that Hamas doesn't have any link or truck with the ISIS, al Qaeda or any extremist outfit. This is against our conviction, our strategy and policies. The whole world should ask itself as to why there is no ISIS or al Qaeda inside Palestine? Such a phenomenon doesn't exist inside Palestine. And the reason is that Hamas and our brother resistance movements are national freedom movements. We have not left any vacuum. We don’t receive any support or arms from these movements. We don’t require their support. Our people have firm belief in moderate thinking. We don’t take refuge in extremist ideology or indulge in killing spree. As far as incident in Yarmook camp is concerned, let me tell you this camp is inside Syria. The events there and presence of ISIS in the camp were influenced by events of Syria. It is a Syrian problem. As far as Sinai (Egypt) is concerned. Hamas has declared openly, it doesn't interfere in the domestic policies of Egypt. We have nothing to do what is happening inside Egyptian borders. All allegations of interference are baseless. You have mentioned about superpowers. Are you pointing towards Russia as well? What are your views about about Saudi Arabia’s role in Yemen? There is no doubt that the US Administration have to take much of the blame because of its biased policy. Their policies towards the people in the region are due to other superpowers as well, and it is not necessary to name them. Foreign intervention against the interests of the people are recipe for a disaster. Their proxy wars are at the expense of lives of the people of the region. We are against these policies in any part of world. On Yemen, again I tell you, we have adopted a policy of not standing as judges and don’t interfere in domestic polices of other countries. We are with the rights of the people. We stand firmly against the intervention in the region. We don’t allow ourselves to be drawn into crises in the region or in any other part of world. Crises in Syria and Iraq have turned into Shia-Sunni conflicts. How, in your view, has this changed political dynamics of Middle East? This is very annoying and a matter of concern. Our region was a model for religious, ethnic and sectarian diversity, of people living together over hundreds of years peacefully despite differences. These sectarian crises came because of several reasons. The first factor is occupation in Afghanistan, Iraq, the dismantling of states and the creation of chaos in region. US treated Iraqi people along Shia, Sunni and Kurdish divisions. The second factor is the agenda of regional powers which exploited sectarian issues to serve their interests. Are you apprehensive about that the US and Iran are coming together? We had firm relations with Iran and Hizbullah. They supported our resistance. We are so grateful to them. But eruption of crises in Syria did affect us. Our relations with Iran were affected and people’s perception towards Iran in this region has also got affected. This has more to do with how the region is now looking at Iran, more than its new-found relations with US. Iran’s policies in the region affected perceptions. The Turkish government has also renewed its relations with Israel. Turkey has been your important supporter so far. As far as rapprochement of Turkey with Israel is concerned, that is their bilateral issue. During talks, they did place pre-conditions on lifting siege of Gaza. They made it a point. This is highly appreciable. Their relations with Israel have never affected our relations with Turkey. You are now about to complete your term as Hamas chief. What are your succession plans.?Most resistance movements the world over are personality-centric. We are an institutional movement. We apply democracy in our ranks. There are elections within our ranks. We are keen to set an example to abide by democratic principles. There will be a smooth transaction. The leadership will come up through ballots. It is not easy to practice democracy in a transparent way when you are under occupation. It is a challenge, but we are taking up this challenge. Given that we have divisions among ourselves, I assure you , we will keep up democratic traditions alive. Iran, Syria and Hizbullah supported you over many years. Syria hosted you also against all odds. But you deceived them. As far as Syria and Iran are concerned, truth is they gave us all support we needed over the years. We will never forget that. But that does not mean that whoever gave us support we will return that favours and we will get involved in their internal affairs and fight against their own people. That is what has happened in Syria. The government there was seeking our support to fight Opposition, their own people We stayed away from their internal crises, and so had to shift from Damascus. Our differences with them were not related to foreign aggression or foreign fighters. We are with them in the battle against ISIS and for foreign aggression. (This story was first published on DNA)

Hamas chief Khaled Mashal says Israel has the master key to resolve Palestinian issue

Qatar said on Thursday it would give $30 million to help pay the salaries of thousands of Gaza Strip public sector workers left without a full wage package since 2013. 
 
The donation was welcomed by Hamas, the Islamist group that dominates the enclave, who said it would help ease the wage shortages that have tested already strained relations with the US-backed Palestinian Authority, based in the West Bank. 
 
There was no immediate comment from Palestinian Authority or Israel, who have long been suspicious of Qatar&#39;s regular donations to Hamas and other Islamist groups across the region. 
 
The emir of the wealthy Gulf state, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, said the payment of 113 million Riyals was meant to &quot;alleviate suffering and financial distress&quot;, according to Qatar&#39;s state news agency, QNA. 
 
Hamas fighters seized control of Gaza in 2007 from forces loyal to Western-backed President Mahmoud Abbas and his Palestinian Authority, triggering years of mutual distrust.&nbsp;A reconciliation pact signed in 2014 by the two sides raised hopes among Hamas that its 50,000 public sector employees&#39; wages would be taken care of via the Palestinian Authority (PA) payroll. 
 
But the Palestinian Authority cannot afford to pay all those extra workers, and international donors who support the PA budget, including the European Union, say they want an audit of workers and cutbacks to the bloated payroll, which costs more than $2 billion a year. 
 
The Hamas-hired public servants have grown restive and in 2014 protested over their lack of payment which is partly due to a continued blockade imposed on Gaza by both Israel and Egypt. 
 
&quot;The July payment will be made in full immediately once the Qatari financial fund is received,&quot; Hamas&#39; deputy finance minister, Youssef al-Kayyali said. 
 
Qatar, which hosts the largest US air base in the Middle East, has for years preserved influence with Islamist forces across the region it believes are the long-term future.&nbsp;The breadth and resilience of Qatar&#39;s links to Islamist groups, including Egypt&#39;s Muslim Brotherhood, which has suffered a crackdown in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, fuels suspicions in other Gulf states. 
 
(Reuters)

Neither the Palestinian Authority nor Israel commented. Both view Qatar's regular donations to Hamas, other Islamist groups with suspicion

Qatar said on Thursday it would give $30 million to help pay the salaries of thousands of Gaza Strip public sector workers left without a full wage package since 2013. The donation was welcomed by Hamas, the Islamist group that dominates the enclave, who said it would help ease the wage shortages that have tested already strained relations with the US-backed Palestinian Authority, based in the West Bank. There was no immediate comment from Palestinian Authority or Israel, who have long been suspicious of Qatar's regular donations to Hamas and other Islamist groups across the region. The emir of the wealthy Gulf state, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, said the payment of 113 million Riyals was meant to "alleviate suffering and financial distress", according to Qatar's state news agency, QNA. Hamas fighters seized control of Gaza in 2007 from forces loyal to Western-backed President Mahmoud Abbas and his Palestinian Authority, triggering years of mutual distrust. A reconciliation pact signed in 2014 by the two sides raised hopes among Hamas that its 50,000 public sector employees' wages would be taken care of via the Palestinian Authority (PA) payroll. But the Palestinian Authority cannot afford to pay all those extra workers, and international donors who support the PA budget, including the European Union, say they want an audit of workers and cutbacks to the bloated payroll, which costs more than $2 billion a year. The Hamas-hired public servants have grown restive and in 2014 protested over their lack of payment which is partly due to a continued blockade imposed on Gaza by both Israel and Egypt. "The July payment will be made in full immediately once the Qatari financial fund is received," Hamas' deputy finance minister, Youssef al-Kayyali said. Qatar, which hosts the largest US air base in the Middle East, has for years preserved influence with Islamist forces across the region it believes are the long-term future. The breadth and resilience of Qatar's links to Islamist groups, including Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, which has suffered a crackdown in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, fuels suspicions in other Gulf states. (Reuters)

Qatar to give $30 million to pay Gaza public sector workers

Six years after a deadly raid on an aid flotilla soured relations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday lauded a highly anticipated deal reached the previous day to restore ties with Turkey. 
 
Netanyahu, speaking after meeting US Secretary of State John Kerry in Rome, said the agreement would have major implications for the Israeli economy, with his country seeking export partners for its natural gas. &nbsp;&quot;I think it&#39;s an important step here to normalise relations,&quot; Netanyahu told reporters. 
 
He described it as having &quot;immense implications for the Israeli economy, and I use that word advisedly&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;I mean positive, immense implications,&quot; he said. 
 
Kerry also hailed the deal as a &quot;positive step&quot;. 
 
&#39;The deal represents a diplomatic victory for Turkey&#39; &nbsp; 
Netanyahu and Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim were scheduled to hold separate press conferences in Rome and Ankara on the deal at 1000 GMT.&nbsp; 
 
A senior Turkish official also confirmed the agreement, saying in a reference to the Israeli raid that it &quot;represents a diplomatic victory for Turkey, which assumed a principled and determined stance after the Mavi Marmara attack.&quot; 
 
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas spoke on phone last night, with the Turkish leader explaining the agreement`s main points, a statement from the Palestinian presidency said. 
 
Erdogan also met with Doha-based Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal on Friday in anticipation of the agreement. 
 
Both Israel, Turkey were pushing to complete the deal &nbsp; 
Both sides have been pushing to complete the deal in recent months, with Israel in search of a potential customer for its offshore gas exports and NATO member Turkey wanting to restore its regional clout, analysts say. 
 
The United States has also pushed for the two countries to resolve the dispute as it seeks cooperation in the fight against extremists from the Islamic State group.&nbsp; 
 
Previously close relations between Israel and Turkey were significantly downgraded after Israeli commandos staged a botched pre-dawn raid on the six-ship flotilla in May 2010 as it tried to run the blockade on the Gaza Strip. 
 
Nine activists aboard the Turkish-owned Mavi Marmara ferry were killed, with a 10th person later dying of his wounds. All of those killed were Turkish nationals. 
 
 
Deal evokes mixed responses in Israel 
Within Israel, the deal was given a mixed response, with one newspaper quoting a soldier from the Mavi Marmara raid as saying &quot;it&#39;s nothing less than spitting in our face.&quot; 
 
The deal includes Israel paying some $20 million into a fund for compensation for the Turkish victims&#39; families.&nbsp;&quot;We were sent to stop a terrorist flotilla. That was the mission,&quot; Maariv quoted the anonymous soldier as saying. 
 
&quot;How is it possible today to pay compensation to terrorists who tried to murder us on board the ship? What message does that send to the rest of the troops?&quot; The deal is to result in the restoration of ambassadors, an Israeli official said on condition of anonymity. 
 
The talking point: Hamas and Gaza&nbsp; 
Two of Turkey&#39;s key conditions for normalisation &ndash; &nbsp;an apology and compensation &ndash; were largely met earlier, leaving its third demand, that Israel lift its blockade on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, the main obstacle.Reports in recent days described a compromise on the issue.&nbsp; 
 
Under the reported terms of the deal, Israel will allow the completion of a much-needed hospital in Gaza, as well as the construction of a new power station and a desalination plant for drinking water. 
 
Turkey&#39;s aid to Gaza would also be channelled through the Israeli port of Ashdod rather than sending it directly to the Palestinian enclave, the reports said. 
 
Turkey has also committed to keeping Islamist movement Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, from carrying out activities against Israel from its country, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported Sunday. 
 
Hamas would continue to be able to operate from Turkey for diplomatic purposes, the paper said. 
 
Netanyahu has also come under pressure within Israel not to agree to the deal if it does not include provisions for Hamas to hand over four missing Israelis, including the remains of two soldiers presumed dead and two civilians believed held alive by Hamas in Gaza.&nbsp; 
 
The Israeli official said Erdogan agreed to instruct &quot;all relevant Turkish agencies to help resolve the issue of Israel`s missing citizens.&quot; 
 
(AFP)&nbsp;

The US also pushed the two countries to resolve the dispute as it seeks cooperation from both in the fight against Islamic State

Six years after a deadly raid on an aid flotilla soured relations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday lauded a highly anticipated deal reached the previous day to restore ties with Turkey. Netanyahu, speaking after meeting US Secretary of State John Kerry in Rome, said the agreement would have major implications for the Israeli economy, with his country seeking export partners for its natural gas. "I think it's an important step here to normalise relations," Netanyahu told reporters. He described it as having "immense implications for the Israeli economy, and I use that word advisedly". "I mean positive, immense implications," he said. Kerry also hailed the deal as a "positive step". 'The deal represents a diplomatic victory for Turkey' Netanyahu and Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim were scheduled to hold separate press conferences in Rome and Ankara on the deal at 1000 GMT. A senior Turkish official also confirmed the agreement, saying in a reference to the Israeli raid that it "represents a diplomatic victory for Turkey, which assumed a principled and determined stance after the Mavi Marmara attack." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas spoke on phone last night, with the Turkish leader explaining the agreement`s main points, a statement from the Palestinian presidency said. Erdogan also met with Doha-based Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal on Friday in anticipation of the agreement. Both Israel, Turkey were pushing to complete the deal Both sides have been pushing to complete the deal in recent months, with Israel in search of a potential customer for its offshore gas exports and NATO member Turkey wanting to restore its regional clout, analysts say. The United States has also pushed for the two countries to resolve the dispute as it seeks cooperation in the fight against extremists from the Islamic State group. Previously close relations between Israel and Turkey were significantly downgraded after Israeli commandos staged a botched pre-dawn raid on the six-ship flotilla in May 2010 as it tried to run the blockade on the Gaza Strip. Nine activists aboard the Turkish-owned Mavi Marmara ferry were killed, with a 10th person later dying of his wounds. All of those killed were Turkish nationals. Deal evokes mixed responses in Israel Within Israel, the deal was given a mixed response, with one newspaper quoting a soldier from the Mavi Marmara raid as saying "it's nothing less than spitting in our face." The deal includes Israel paying some $20 million into a fund for compensation for the Turkish victims' families. "We were sent to stop a terrorist flotilla. That was the mission," Maariv quoted the anonymous soldier as saying. "How is it possible today to pay compensation to terrorists who tried to murder us on board the ship? What message does that send to the rest of the troops?" The deal is to result in the restoration of ambassadors, an Israeli official said on condition of anonymity. The talking point: Hamas and Gaza Two of Turkey's key conditions for normalisation – an apology and compensation – were largely met earlier, leaving its third demand, that Israel lift its blockade on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, the main obstacle.Reports in recent days described a compromise on the issue. Under the reported terms of the deal, Israel will allow the completion of a much-needed hospital in Gaza, as well as the construction of a new power station and a desalination plant for drinking water. Turkey's aid to Gaza would also be channelled through the Israeli port of Ashdod rather than sending it directly to the Palestinian enclave, the reports said. Turkey has also committed to keeping Islamist movement Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, from carrying out activities against Israel from its country, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported Sunday. Hamas would continue to be able to operate from Turkey for diplomatic purposes, the paper said. Netanyahu has also come under pressure within Israel not to agree to the deal if it does not include provisions for Hamas to hand over four missing Israelis, including the remains of two soldiers presumed dead and two civilians believed held alive by Hamas in Gaza. The Israeli official said Erdogan agreed to instruct "all relevant Turkish agencies to help resolve the issue of Israel`s missing citizens." (AFP)

Restoration of ties with Turkey to have positive implications on Israel's economy: Netanyahu

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan&nbsp;on Friday&nbsp;met the leader of the radical Palestinian group Hamas for unscheduled talks following reports that Ankara was close to agreeing a deal on normalising ties with Israel. 
 
Erdogan received the Doha-based Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, whose group rules the Gaza Strip, at the Ottoman-era Yildiz Palace in Istanbul, the official Anadolu Agency reported, quoting presidential sources. 
 
Turkish press reports have said Israel and Turkey could hold final talks on normalising ties&nbsp;on Sunday&nbsp;but this is yet to be confirmed. 
 
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said&nbsp;on Thursday&nbsp;there was a &quot;large possibility&quot; the negotiations would take place by the end of this month. 
 
Anadolu said Erdogan and Meshaal discussed how to ease the humanitarian problems of the Palestinians and how to bridge the differences between Hamas and the other main Palestinian group Fatah. 
 
The report made no reference to the Turkish talks with Israel. 
 
Previously tight relations between Israel and key NATO member Turkey were significantly downgraded after Israeli commandos staged a deadly pre-dawn raid on a six-ship flotilla in May 2010 as it tried to run the blockade on Gaza. 
 
Two of Turkey&#39;s key conditions for normalisation,an apology and compensation, were largely met, leaving its third demand, that Israel lift its blockade on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, as the main obstacle. 
 
According to the Hurriyet daily, a compromise has been reached with Turkey set to send aid for Palestinians via the Israeli port of Ashdod rather than sending it directly to Gaza. 
 
(AFP)

Relations were downgraded after Israeli commandos staged a deadly pre-dawn raid on a Turkish flotilla trying to run the Gaza blockad

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday met the leader of the radical Palestinian group Hamas for unscheduled talks following reports that Ankara was close to agreeing a deal on normalising ties with Israel. Erdogan received the Doha-based Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, whose group rules the Gaza Strip, at the Ottoman-era Yildiz Palace in Istanbul, the official Anadolu Agency reported, quoting presidential sources. Turkish press reports have said Israel and Turkey could hold final talks on normalising ties on Sunday but this is yet to be confirmed. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday there was a "large possibility" the negotiations would take place by the end of this month. Anadolu said Erdogan and Meshaal discussed how to ease the humanitarian problems of the Palestinians and how to bridge the differences between Hamas and the other main Palestinian group Fatah. The report made no reference to the Turkish talks with Israel. Previously tight relations between Israel and key NATO member Turkey were significantly downgraded after Israeli commandos staged a deadly pre-dawn raid on a six-ship flotilla in May 2010 as it tried to run the blockade on Gaza. Two of Turkey's key conditions for normalisation,an apology and compensation, were largely met, leaving its third demand, that Israel lift its blockade on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, as the main obstacle. According to the Hurriyet daily, a compromise has been reached with Turkey set to send aid for Palestinians via the Israeli port of Ashdod rather than sending it directly to Gaza. (AFP)

Erdogan meets Hamas leader Meshaal amidst reports of Turkey normalising ties with Israel

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