Middle East News
US blames Hamas for Gaza "chaos" (2nd Roundup)
Jan 23, 2008, 20:14 GMT
Washington - The United States blamed Hamas on Wednesday for the plight in the Gaza Strip that prompted hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee into Egypt to purchase supplies.
'The Palestinians living in Gaza are living under chaos because of Hamas,' White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said. 'The blame has to be placed fully at their feet.'
Palestinian militants blew numerous holes in a wall along the border with Egypt in response to an Israeli siege that cut off supplies to the tiny Palestinian territory controlled by Hamas.
Palestinian were flocking to Egypt to buy food, cigarettes and other goods.
Israel cut the Gaza Strip off in response to dozens of rocket attacks from the territory into the Jewish state, and urged Egyptian authorities to ensure the Palestinians returning to the Strip are unable to smuggle in arms.
The US State Department said Assistant Secretary of State David Welch spoke with the Egyptian ambassador to Washington, Nabil Fahmy, to raise US concerns about security along the border.
'We all believe that it's important that there be security along the border and that the Egyptians are able to adequately control and police their border,' deputy spokesman Tom Casey said.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the humanitarian needs in Gaza must be considered along with Israel's security.
'I should note that both the security of Israel and the humanitarian concerns of the people of Gaza need to be kept in mind,' Rice said in Zurich after arriving to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
'Of course, we believe that Hamas has acted in a way in Gaza that has made it very difficult for the Palestinians, the innocent Palestinians who are unfortunate enough to be in Gaza,' Rice said at a press conference with Swiss Federal Councilor Micheline Calmy-Rey.
© 2008 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
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Ever since Israel withdrew from Gaza the southern part of Israel including the city of Sderot have been bombarded by rockets fired by the Palestinians at the city. The Hamas leadership has not stopped this violence, and therefore is responsible for any retaliatory measures Israel has had to take. No self- respecting country can allow its citizens to be under constant bombardment. In fact many in Israel feel the present Government has failed by not moving to militarily quash the terrorists in Gaza. In any case the Palestinians usually policy of doing violence and crying out at how they are the victims has worked again in public relations terms. This does not change the fact that their evil refusal to live in peace with Israel is the basic cause of the conflict.
Hey blokes I am al-fungus... The other al guy above has stolen my tag so I assume he must be a hamas. So be it.
I am a bit curious how the Arab media can claim that civilians were injured (showing a picture of a guy with a black mask holding an AK-47 being carried into hospital). That must be the 2008 designer look for Gaza men. I can't wait to see it on the runways in The Paris fashion season this spring. Oh Brother the world is tired of hearing about the plight of the POOR Palestine when they have been more a victim of there own corruption. Where is the 3 Billion dollars that Arafat and the fat boys stole???? Mrs. Arafat knows......
One last thought… What organization/government would launch rockets at neighboring country expecting retaliation and in the process put your civilians in between the fighting and in harms way?? I thought governments are supposed to protect their people??? These Hamas do not care about their people or anything else therefore they are not a legitimate government. If the people support these Hamas then they are part of the fight and expect to be in the fight. The world should ask these questions. The Hamas could never exist in peace, they only kill…ask the Fatah
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al-fallujahJan 24th, 2008 - 01:57:20
beautiful! bravo to the people of Palestine
while the west sit back and idly chatter these people are suffering under israeli guns, oppression, occupation, mass imprisonment etc
TEAR DOWN ALL THE WALLS OF SEPARATION
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