...became Prime Minister after the legislative elections of 2006 which Hamas won. President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed Haniyeh from office on 14 June 2007 at the height of the Fatah-Hamas festivities, but Haniyeh did not acknowledge the decree and continues as the PM of Gazoo while Abbas maintains a separate PM in the West Bank..., has commended the West Bank for its "resistance" in the face of Israeli occupation, as thousands of Paleostinians marched in the Gazoo Strip to express their support for the movement on its 31st anniversary.
"We place our hopes in the West Bank, which is the main area where events are occurring and the most appropriate area to resolve the conflict with our Zionist enemy," Haniyeh told the massive crowd, who waived green Hamas flags on Sunday.
"The West Bank has shaken and stood up with glory, strength and skill, as if it wanted to say to our people on the occasion of this glorious anniversary that it was with the resistance, in total harmony."
Also present during the celebrations were Hamas’ armed wing, the Ezzeddin al-Qassam Brigades, which showcased various military vehicles and weapons.
Haniyeh affirmed that al-Qassam Brigades had succeeded in obtaining accurate information about the recent Israeli operation that was carried out by Israeli special forces in Khan Younis, describing the security assets it had obtained as priceless and useful in managing "the brain warfare" against the occupation in the next stage.
Undercover Israeli special forces infiltrated into the territory in a civilian car near Khan Yunis, opening fire and killing local commander Noor Baraka when they were discovered.
The unit was chased by Hamas fighters who killed a ranking Israeli officer. Israel then launched dozens of
s on Gazoo, drawing Hamas retaliation. During a two-day flare-up, more than 500 rockets were fired at Israel, forcing Tel Aviv to accept a hasty declaration of a ceasefire.