Hamas calls for renewing bombing attacks on Israel

October 27, 2009

Islamic Hamas movement, which rules the Gaza Strip called on Monday to renew attacks on Israel in response to Israeli police attacks on Muslims prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque in the old city of Jerusalem.

Ahmed Abu Halabeya, a Gaza-based Hamas leader and a lawmaker in the Hamas-dominated parliament (PLC) told a news conference that Palestinian militants are urged "to carry out holy attacks into the Zionist enemy's depth."

Hamas had carried out dozens of suicide bombing attacks into Israel, where hundreds of Israelis were killed since the beginning of the Palestinian uprising, or Intifada against Israel in late Sept. 2000.

"Armed resistance should hurry up to do their best and use all holy means of resistance and Jihad operations in Jerusalem and into the Zionist enemy's depth," said Abu Halabeya.

On Sunday, 30 Palestinians injured in clashes with Israeli police outside al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem in protest against a Jewish religious group's attempt to enter into the mosque's yard.

"The Palestinian people are asked first to end their current split and then unify their efforts towards resisting the Zionist occupation and force it to withdraw from our occupied territories," said Abu Halabeya.

He also called on President Mahmoud Abbas "to stop the absurd task with the Zionist enemy," adding that the Arab League and the Islamic Conference "are urged to convene and make decisions to protect al-Aqsa Mosque."

"I call on Arabs and Muslims all over the world to sever their diplomatic ties with the Zionist occupation in response to their attacks on the first shrine of Moslems," said Abu Halabeya.