19 April 2009

The Palestinian government headed by premier Ismail Haneyya stressed Friday its adherence to the option of resistance until the achievement of the Palestinian people's aspirations and goals, the restoration of their just rights and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

On the anniversary of the passing of Dr. Abdelaziz Al-Rantisi, a prominent co-founder of Hamas Movement, which coincides with the prisoner day, spokesman for the government Taher Al-Nunu said that the issue of prisoners would remain at the top of the government's priorities and its political moves.

In a statement received by the PIC, Nunu hailed all Palestinian prisoners for their legendary steadfastness in the face of the Israeli suppression and torture, stressing that the government would spare no effort to see the prisoners back home.

The statement called on international humanitarian organizations to take decisive action against the illegal kidnapping of Palestinian citizens carried out by Israel and work on getting prisoners released from Israeli jails, pointing out that the continued detention of citizens is a violation punishable under international law and needs to be addressed urgently.

It also called on the UN administration to take a clear position towards Israel's aggressive practices in occupied Jerusalem and its schemes to judaize it.

During a massive march organized Friday by Hamas on the occasion of the prisoner day, Dr. Khalil Al-Hayya, a senior Hamas leader, stressed that the support of the Palestinian resistance is a religious and national duty imposed on the Arab and Islamic nation.

Dr. Hayya reiterated his Movement's adherence to its demands for the prisoner swap deal, castigating the policy of double standards pursued by the international community which demands the Palestinians to release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit while it keeps silent towards more than 11,000 Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails.

The Hamas official also deplored the PA in Ramallah for celebrating the prisoner day while there are dozens of Palestinian prisoners in its jails.

Resistance is the strategic option of the Palestinian people

On his part, Sheikh Nafedh Azzam, one of the Islamic Jihad leaders, has asserted that resistance would remain the strategic option of the Palestinian people despite all the suffering they endure as a result.

He told a massive rally organized by his Movement on Friday in Jabalia, northern Gaza, in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli occupation jails that freedom of those Palestinian prisoners was a priority.

Azzam hoped that the Ramallah authority led by Mahmoud Abbas, the former PA chief, would halt all negotiations with the Israeli occupation authority, adding that the settlement process was "born dead".

The Jihad leader called for increasing rallies and activities in solidarity with the Aqsa Mosque and occupied Jerusalem, which are facing IOA threats and attacks.