- Title: GAZA: Dozens in Gaza demonstrate against restart of peace talks
- Date: 30th July 2013
- Summary: GAZA CITY, GAZA (JULY 30,2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS - DOZENS OF MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE (DFLP) MARCHING TOWARDS THE UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, IN PROTEST AGAINST NEGOTIATIONS WOMEN HOLDING BANNERS MARCHERS WAVING DFLP AND PALESTINIAN FLAGS MARCHERS GATHER FOR RALLY DFLP FLAG HAMAS SPOKESMAN SAMI ABU ZUHRI STANDING IN CROWD MEN HOLDING BANNERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) TALAL ABU ZARIFA, AN OFFICIAL OF THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE, SAYING: "A halt to all settlement activity, in Jerusalem and in the West Bank, Israel's recognition of the borders of June 4, 1967 as the borders of the state, negotiations based on the decisions of the international community and setting a deadline any negotiations - we think that these things will allow entrance to fair negotiations that will lead to complete and balanced peace." (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAMI ABU ZUHRI, HAMAS SPOKESMAN, SAYING "The choice of the (Palestinian) Authority in Ramallah to enter negotiations is a deviation from the consensus of the people. The step of negotiations is a separate and isolated step and does not express the real feelings of the Palestinians. We agree that this step will end in failure, like it failed 20-years ago. But, unfortunately, the only beneficiary from what will happen is the occupation which will cover its crimes with these negotiations." MORE OF RALLY
- Embargoed: 14th August 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Gaza
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAAV1I159W2DBD04KZS8MTQY8JZ
- Story Text: Hamas, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' rivals in Gaza, rallied on Tuesday (July 30) against the start of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in Washington after almost three years of deadlock.
Dozens of members of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) faction in Gaza marched through the streets of Gaza city against Israeli and Palestinian renewed peace talks, the outcome of months of intensive mediation by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to get the sides back to talks, with the hope of resolving a decades-old conflict.
Waving DFLP and Palestinian flags, dozens chanted slogans against negotiations.
"A halt to all settlement activity, in Jerusalem and in the West Bank, Israel's recognition of the borders of June 4, 1967 as the borders of the state, negotiations based on the decisions of the international community and setting a deadline any negotiations - we think that these things will allow entrance to fair negotiations that will lead to complete and balanced peace," said Talal Abu Zarifa, an official of the DFLP.
Islamist Hamas, who rule Gaza and do not recognise the Jewish state's right to exist, voiced their opposition to peace talks.
"The choice of the (Palestinian) Authority in Ramallah to enter negotiations is a deviation from the consensus of the people. The step of negotiations is a separate and isolated step and does not express the real feelings of the Palestinians. We agree that this step will end in failure, like it failed 20 years ago. But, unfortunately, the only beneficiary from what will happen is the occupation which will cover its crimes with these negotiations," said Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman who attended the rally.
Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, but has kept a naval blockade on the enclave since Hamas took it over in 2007 in a brief civil war with Abbas' Fatah party. Israel and Hamas have fought several lethal rounds of violence since.
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