13 April 2009

GAZA, (PIC)-- Hamas has warned the Israeli occupation authority against any military escalation against the Gaza Strip to retrieve the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

Yisrael Katz, the transportation minister in the new Israeli far right government, had said that the transfer of foodstuff and raw material to the Gaza Strip should be stopped until the Palestinian resistance frees Shalit. He also called for assassinating leaders of Palestinian factions.

Dr. Ismail Radwan, a Hamas political leader, told Quds Press on Saturday commenting on those statements that such threats point to the nature of the current "racist" IOA government, which aims at annihilating the Palestinian people and applying the policy of transfer or forcing mass exodus of Palestinians.

"We, in Hamas, affirm that such threats won't terrorize us and won't break our determination or force us to give up conditions set by the captors," he said.

"Let this terrorist minister and the occupation government know that Shalit would never be released until our brave prisoners are released according to the captors' conditions," he said, asserting that the entire Palestinian people were supporting the captors.

The Hamas leader warned of the repercussions of any uncalculated escalation on the part of the Hebrew state, holding it responsible for consequences of such a step.

Radwan also lashed out at former PA chief Mahmoud Abbas's statement that claimed the capture of Shalit had cost the Palestinian people a heavy price. The Hamas leader retorted saying that such statements only encourage the IOA to continue in its practices against and pressures on the Palestinian people.

IOA closes Ibrahimi Mosque to celebrate Passover

In a separate zionist occupation criminalities, the Israeli occupation authority on Sunday closed down the Ibrahimi Mosque in Al-Khalil city for two days to celebrate Jewish Passover, Hebrew media reported.

The report said that the Azan (call for prayers) would be banned and the mosque would be totally closed for Muslims while Jews would be allowed to enter freely to celebrate their feast.

Jewish settlers living near the mosque frequently assault Palestinian citizens in the Old City of Al-Khalil where the mosque is located.

The IOA closes the mosque before Muslim worshippers several times each year to allow Jews to celebrate their feasts.

Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation forces on Saturday arrested two foreign solidarity activists in Al-Khalil for allegedly being in an IOF declared military zone.

The Jewish settlers also on Saturday reportedly attacked a Palestinian ambulance while carrying a sick woman, smashing its windows and terrifying the patient and the paramedics.