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Palestinian Resistance Factions to Restore Order
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Hamas
leaders protest security chaos and abduction of foreigners in
Gaza
. (Reuters)
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By
Mostafa El-Sawwaf, IOL Correspondent
GAZA
CITY, January 7, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) – Palestinian resistance
factions have accused the Palestinian Authority of failing its
security responsibility, revealing plans to set up a joint force to
maintain order and grind the raging chaos in the territories to a
halt.
"If
the PA dragged its feet over this issue, we would set up a special
security force to undertake this responsibility," Ezz El-Dine
Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs
and Islamic Jihad’s Al-Quds Brigades, said in a joint statement, a
copy of which was obtained by IslamOnline.net on Saturday, January 7.
They
stressed that the PA was expected to restore order, maintain security
and adopt a zero-tolerance policy with those behind the recent
anarchy.
The
factions pointed the finger at "suspicious bodies" for
plunging the Gaza Strip into a state of lawlessness.
“Unethical”
The
factions further denounced the unrest at the Gaza-Egypt border and the
spat of kidnappings in
Gaza
, saying these irresponsible acts did not reflect the ethics of the
Palestinian people.
"We
condemn this incident in the strongest possible terms as it badly
hurts the image of the Palestinians, who only use their weapons
against the Zionist enemy," read the statement.
The
factions condoled with the families of the two Egyptian soldiers
killed in the clashes.
Using
a bulldozer, Palestinian fighters belonging to Al-Aqsa Brigades
smashed through a barricade on the Gaza Strip's southern border with
Egypt
on Wednesday, January 4, protesting the arrest of a comrade by the PA
on suspicion of involvement in the kidnapping of three British
activists.
They
then opened fire randomly at Egyptian soldiers, killing two and
injuring up to 27 others.
Seven-hundred
Egyptian policemen have been deployed to the area following the
Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip in September. They do not have
orders to return fire if attacked.
The
armed wings of the resistance factions also condemned the recent spat
of abductions.
"Those
kidnappers should realize the great damage their actions do to the
Palestinian cause," they said.
"They
have nothing to do with noble resistance fighters, who struggle to
liberate the land.
The
factions warned those behind the abduction of foreign activists,
saying they would strike with an iron fist against the violators.
Gaza
has seen a rash of kidnappings in the past two months.
Last
Sunday, an Italian activist was kidnapped at gunpoint in Khan Yunis,
the latest in a string of abduction of foreigners in the increasingly
lawless territory.
All
have been released unharmed.
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