Raphael
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Mahmoud Abbas slams Hamas over rocket attacks on Israel: ‘What are you trying to achieve?’ | National Post
RAMALLAH and JERUSALEM — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on Hamas to end its hail of rockets on Israel as Israeli leaders signalled they were preparing to invade the Gaza Strip to stop the barrages.
Mr. Abbas spoke Thursday as the Palestinian death toll from three days of intensified Israeli air strikes in Hamas-controlled Gaza neared 90.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address there would be “additional phases” to the military operation and that a “difficult, complex” battle lies ahead.
“What are you trying to achieve by sending rockets?” Mr. Abbas asked on Palestine TV, without explicitly naming Hamas, which recently lent its backing to his government after a seven-year rift. “We prefer to fight with wisdom and politics.”
It was the first time he has openly criticized Hamas for firing hundreds of rockets into Israel over the past month. The public nature of his critique may further strain his political alliance with the hardline Islamists, which has already developed cracks over finances and his denunciation of the abduction of three Israeli teenagers, whose killing Israel has blamed on the militant group.
Israeli aircraft stepped up weeks of strikes on the territory this week after the rocket fire grew heavier, reaching farther into Israel than ever before.
In New York, United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon warned the Security Council of the “risk of an all-out escalation in Israel and Gaza, with the threat of a ground offensive still palpable.”
“It is unacceptable for citizens on both sides to permanently live in fear of the next aerial attack,” he said. “My paramount concern is the safety and well-being of all civilians, no matter where they are.”
He also condemned the “indiscriminate” rocket fire at Israel.
Mr. Abbas said Egyptian efforts to reach a truce have failed, and he was in contact with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in an attempt to end the violence. Israel’s current military campaign is the third in less than six years.
“It’s not important who wins or loses,” Mr. Abbas said. “What’s important is to end this bloodshed.”
He patched up his breach with Hamas as peace negotiations with Israel collapsed. The Hamas-backed Palestinian government, formed June 2, has been beset by disputes over finances, with Mr. Abbas declining to pick up the payroll for 58,000 employees of the former Hamas government in Gaza for fear the terrorist taint would scare off donors. Canada, the U.S. and the European Union consider Hamas a terrorist organization.
Mr. Abbas delivered his appeal to end the bloodshed just hours after Israel disclosed it is mobilizing 20,000 soldiers for a possible ground invasion.
“Where is this leading, is it leading to a ground force incursion? I can’t confirm that,” Israel army spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Lerner said. “I can confirm we are making all the necessary preparations to be ready for that.”
This week, the military was authorized to call up as many as 40,000 reserve troops.
Meanwhile, the Iron Dome defence system has intercepted more than 100 of the projectiles destined for major Israeli cities. It is designed to shoot down rockets headed toward populated areas, while allowing others to fall where they can do no harm.
In southern Israel, the area hit hardest by the rockets, people have been ordered to stay in close range of shelter. Summer camps have been cancelled, motorists have been forced to jump out of their cars, and high school students took their final exams in bomb shelters. Many people are using a smartphone application that alerts them to incoming rockets when they can’t hear air-raid sirens.
Lian Assayag had planned a big wedding in Ashkelon. But her special day was dashed because of the rocket fire. She decided instead to get married Thursday night inside a bomb shelter at a synagogue in nearby Ashdod.
“I have mixed feelings. Everything got messed up,” she told Channel 10 TV. “It’ll be OK.”
RAMALLAH and JERUSALEM — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on Hamas to end its hail of rockets on Israel as Israeli leaders signalled they were preparing to invade the Gaza Strip to stop the barrages.
Mr. Abbas spoke Thursday as the Palestinian death toll from three days of intensified Israeli air strikes in Hamas-controlled Gaza neared 90.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address there would be “additional phases” to the military operation and that a “difficult, complex” battle lies ahead.
“What are you trying to achieve by sending rockets?” Mr. Abbas asked on Palestine TV, without explicitly naming Hamas, which recently lent its backing to his government after a seven-year rift. “We prefer to fight with wisdom and politics.”
It was the first time he has openly criticized Hamas for firing hundreds of rockets into Israel over the past month. The public nature of his critique may further strain his political alliance with the hardline Islamists, which has already developed cracks over finances and his denunciation of the abduction of three Israeli teenagers, whose killing Israel has blamed on the militant group.
Israeli aircraft stepped up weeks of strikes on the territory this week after the rocket fire grew heavier, reaching farther into Israel than ever before.
In New York, United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon warned the Security Council of the “risk of an all-out escalation in Israel and Gaza, with the threat of a ground offensive still palpable.”
“It is unacceptable for citizens on both sides to permanently live in fear of the next aerial attack,” he said. “My paramount concern is the safety and well-being of all civilians, no matter where they are.”
He also condemned the “indiscriminate” rocket fire at Israel.
Mr. Abbas said Egyptian efforts to reach a truce have failed, and he was in contact with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in an attempt to end the violence. Israel’s current military campaign is the third in less than six years.
“It’s not important who wins or loses,” Mr. Abbas said. “What’s important is to end this bloodshed.”
He patched up his breach with Hamas as peace negotiations with Israel collapsed. The Hamas-backed Palestinian government, formed June 2, has been beset by disputes over finances, with Mr. Abbas declining to pick up the payroll for 58,000 employees of the former Hamas government in Gaza for fear the terrorist taint would scare off donors. Canada, the U.S. and the European Union consider Hamas a terrorist organization.
Mr. Abbas delivered his appeal to end the bloodshed just hours after Israel disclosed it is mobilizing 20,000 soldiers for a possible ground invasion.
“Where is this leading, is it leading to a ground force incursion? I can’t confirm that,” Israel army spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Lerner said. “I can confirm we are making all the necessary preparations to be ready for that.”
This week, the military was authorized to call up as many as 40,000 reserve troops.
Meanwhile, the Iron Dome defence system has intercepted more than 100 of the projectiles destined for major Israeli cities. It is designed to shoot down rockets headed toward populated areas, while allowing others to fall where they can do no harm.
In southern Israel, the area hit hardest by the rockets, people have been ordered to stay in close range of shelter. Summer camps have been cancelled, motorists have been forced to jump out of their cars, and high school students took their final exams in bomb shelters. Many people are using a smartphone application that alerts them to incoming rockets when they can’t hear air-raid sirens.
Lian Assayag had planned a big wedding in Ashkelon. But her special day was dashed because of the rocket fire. She decided instead to get married Thursday night inside a bomb shelter at a synagogue in nearby Ashdod.
“I have mixed feelings. Everything got messed up,” she told Channel 10 TV. “It’ll be OK.”
