Hamas leader: We’ll lead intifada after intifada
Hamas’s version of calling for peace…
Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh Wednesday called for the formation of an Arab army “to liberate Jerusalem and the Al Aqsa Mosque very soon” and said his movement remained committed to the armed struggle as a strategic option to liberate “all the occupied Palestinian territories.”
Addressing tens of thousands of supporters during a rally in Gaza City marking the 24th anniversary of the founding of Hamas, Haniyeh said that his movement, “together with all the free people, would lead the fight to liberate all Palestine.”
Held under the banner, “Jerusalem, We are Coming,” the rally was one of the biggest shows of support for Hamas in recent years.
Hamas officials estimated the number of participants at 350,000. However, some Palestinians put the figure at less than half.
The rally was attended by many school children, some under the age of 10, dressed in military outfits and brandishing fake rockets and rifles.
One of the boys, Iyad Taha, 9, told a local reporter: “As of today, I belong to Hamas. When I grow up I will be with Hamas and defend the Al Aqsa Mosque and Muslims. Hamas beat the occupation and ridiculed them. It kidnapped their soldier and forced them to release our prisoners.”
…Yehya Sinwar, a Hamas operative who was released in the prisoner exchange in return for IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, called on all palestinians to join Hamas ands to prepare for the battle to march on Jerusalem.
Sinwar told the crowd that the era of weakness has gone forever “and from now on no one will remain strong.”
Appealing to Arabs in Libya, Tunisia, Algiers, Morocco, Iraq, Syria and the Gulf, Sinwar urged them to prepare for the “big march” on Jerusalem, which he said will take place soon.