[Ynet] Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, has in recent days stepped up its attempts at psychological warfare against Israel, test firing rockets out to sea, posting leaked videos of IDF investigations - and on Sunday staging a massive military parade in the Gazoo Strip to mark the 27th anniversary of its creation.| Parading in the rain, as Israel is being swept by storms. Lots of pictures at the link. |
As part of its propaganda drive, Hamas issued a video in which a silhouetted figure shows up at the end. Hamas claims that the figure is Mohammed Deif, the founder of the military wing who was targeted by the IDF during the summer conflict.
It is impossible to establish whether this is really Deif, whom some in the defense establishment believe was killed in Gazoo in August. In the background of the purported appearance plays a speech Deif gave during Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012.
Among the speakers at the rally was Hamas military wing front man Abu Obeida, who became a familiar name during Operation Protective Edge over the summer.
"Hamas was able to stop the ambitions of the Zionist enterprise and because of that, it is today on the verge of collapsing and disappearing," he said.
"We will not lay down our weapons until we use them to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Hamas and its battalions know how to write history. For many years we have produced the al-Qassam army that you and the world sees, the combat units that today are taking part in this spectacular demonstration."
Turning to the Paleostinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, Abu Odeida announced that their release was close.
"The day on which they see the light of freedom is closer than ever. Stay patient and steadfast and keep strengthening your brother fighters," he said.
Abu Obeida also mocked Israel for Hamas ultimately forcing it to release the prisoners.
"Yes, you captured 45 prisoners out of those released in the Shalit deal, judged them in your courts and bestowed on them long or life sentences. Judge all you want and deliver years in prison and life sentences, but you will not get to decide their exits for the first time in history. These heroes will be freed and their brothers released at a time that is not of your planning, and this time close."
The Hamas front man said the Knesset law to prevent prisoner exchange deals was not worth the paper it was written on. "The hands that voted to approve it will be the ones to annul it," he said.
Regarding the now-stagnant rehabilitation of the Gazoo Strip, Abu Obeida said that, "our loss of patience on the issue of rehabilitation implies that Israel will not deliver and an kaboom is imminent. Our people will not agree to the issue being forgotten. We will not accept anything less than rehabilitation of the damage caused by the Zionist aggression against Gazoo."
He thanked Qatar
...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates...
, Turkey and Iran for standing by Hamas' side and the side of the organization's military wing.
Hamas leader Khalil al-Haya, who had one son killed in Operation Cast Lead in 2008 and another in Protective Edge this summer, made an anticipated fiery
...a single two-syllable word carrying connotations of both incoherence and viciousness. A fiery delivery implies an audience of rubes and yokels, preferably forming up into a mob...
speech.
"After 27 years, Hamas holds aircraft and holds the sea. It has the ability to penetrate the enemy by sea, land and air. Anyone who thinks that Israel is here to stay is wrong. All of Paleostine is Islamic land and no one will share it. Jerusalem is the capital of Paleostine and the center of the conflict. "
| Just a parade isn't enough, so Hamas added one more excitement: |
[IsraelTimes] Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason,'s military wing on Sunday launched a locally manufactured drone at a Gazoo City march in honor of the founding of the group, prompting the Israel Air Force to raise its alertness level.
The drone activity led the air force to summon jets to the area, but no shots were fired at the unmanned aircraft, Channel 2 reported.