- Title: GAZA: Hamas rally takes aim at Egypt, Israel
- Date: 23rd March 2014
- Summary: GAZA CITY, GAZA (MARCH 23, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIANS AT HAMAS RALLY HAMAS LEADER IN GAZA, ISMAIL HANIYEH, ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HAMAS LEADER IN GAZA, ISMAIL HANIYEH, SAYING: "Why is Gaza being punished? Was it because it said 'No' to Israel? Why is Gaza being punished? Was it because it rose the rifle against Israel? Why is Gaza being punished? Was it because it was and will be steadfast in the face of hostility? Why is Gaza being punished? Was it because it wants to liberate Jerusalem?" VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT RALLY CHANTING SLOGANS FLAGS ON BUILDING RALLY IN PROGRESS PEOPLE WAVING HAMAS FLAGS VARIOUS OF RALLY
- Embargoed: 7th April 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Gaza
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVACCSS0ABL6GAWWKRUQHK178ML6
- Story Text: Tens of thousands of Palestinians rallied in Gaza on Sunday (March 23) to show support for their Islamist Hamas government, which has long been at loggerheads with Israel but is now shunned by Egypt as well.
The military-backed government that toppled the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas's ideological kin, in Cairo last year deems the Palestinian faction a security threat. An Egyptian court this month banned Hamas activities in the country, and Cairo has clamped down on smuggling tunnels across the Sinai-Gaza border.
Hamas tried in vain to mollify Egypt by insisting that its hostility was directed exclusively at Israel, but is now turning up the rhetoric.
Speaking to the crowds, head of the Hamas government Ismail Haniyeh said punishment of Gazans must end.
"Why is Gaza being punished? Was it because it said 'No' to Israel? Why is Gaza being punished? Was it because it rose the rifle against Israel? Why is Gaza being punished? Was it because it was and will be steadfast in the face of hostility? Why is Gaza being punished? Was it because it wants to liberate Jerusalem?" he said in a speech interspersed with chants of "Jihad is not Terrorism" over the loudspeakers.
Hamas has repeatedly fought Israel, which withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005. The Islamists won a Palestinian legislative election the next year and, after a uneasy power-share with the U.S.-backed rival faction Fatah, seized control of Gaza in 2007.
Cairo's cold shoulder has exacerbated Hamas's isolation since it quit its headquarters in Damascus in protest at Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's crackdown on opposition groups, a move that led Iran to cut off funding. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
