Where to get information about the war on Gaza

Both al-Jazeera and Press TV have been making a very commendable effort to cover the Israeli war on Gaza and both stations are streaming live in English 24/7. They have also created a special page on their websites for those interested in following the events on the ground:

Press TV "Gaza under fire"
Al-Jazeera "War on Gaza"

The Isreali newspaper Ha'aretz also regularly publishes very interesting analytical pieces.

That's all I have found so far.

Please let us know if you have found other interesting sources, in particular Hamas information sources in English. Many thanks in advance!

The Saker

Breaking News: the Israelis massacre refugees in a UN compound (again)

It is an Israeli tradition of sorts to attack UN compounds in each of its war. Remember the first and second Israeli attacks on the UN compound in Qana? Well, this time the 'glorious and invincible Tsahal' did it again: they just attacked a UN compound in Gaza killing 40+ people who had found a shelter in this school converted into a refugee center. As always, the UN had given the Israelis the GPS coordinates of the compound. Actually, the Israelis hit the first UN compound on Monday morning, but that initial strike did not achieve the intended result. This latest strike, however, will probably give the Israelis a sense of "teaching the UN a lesson".

I am just curious about one thing: will the Israelis actually claim that Hamas was firing missiles from inside (or nearby) the UN compound?

Breaking News: Israeli forces are attempting to enter Gaza city

Al-Jazeeera streaming, Ha'aretz and Press TV are reporting a major Israeli ground operation inside Gaza city. This means that the real fighting has now begun.

Still too early to call

Ten days into the operation and following the first 48 hours of the ground assault there is really very little info coming out of Gaza. Al-Jazeera (the only TV station with a crew inside Gaza) is doing a very decent job trying to report from the Strip, but its reporters clearly lack the ability to move from location to location and thus mostly provide reports from the top of a building along the cost, from the main hospital and from Israeli occupied Palestine.

Most Palestinian news outlets are close to useless in terms of real info.

Ha'aretz regularly publishes very interesting analytical pieces, but is terms of hard facts it is about as useless as Palestinian sources.

Hamas is doing a dismal job in terms of PR or information. For example, Hamas clearly makes propagandistic statements whose shelf life is less than 24 hours (such as the story about the two Israeli soliders allegedly captured by Hamas). Instead of taking their inspiration from Hezbollah (whose credibility among Israeli Jews is *higher* than the one of government or Israeli news outlets), Hamas seems to take its inspiration from "Comical Ali" aka Muhammed Saeed al-Sahaf, Saddam's "information minister"; not a good sign for the future...

All in all, there is little or no info coming out of Gaza.

I just listened to a senior Hamas leader (whose name I did not catch) speaking on al-Jazeera who said that the fact that Hamas would send a delegation to Egypt should not be seen as a sign that Hamas is willing to accept a cease-fire. Considering that Egpypt is beyond any shadow of a doubt an Israeli pawn in this entire affair I simply cannot see the point for Hamas of talking to any Egyptians at all. Same thing for the Sarkozy/Kouchner gang whose dedication to Zionism is always impeccable.

Fatah, for its part, is taking a patriotic stance by declaring its full support for the people of Gaza and unity with Hamas, but it is doing so "on the cheap", without any concrete actions to back its words (such as recognizing the legitimacy of the Hamas government in Gaza, for starters).

The USA back Israel 110%. What else is knew? Ditto for the Palau, Nauru, Tuvalu, the Federated States of Micronesia and... ah, yes, the United Kingdom (I always forget this small and utterly irrelevant island).

All this was fully predictable and so far, everything is going exactly according to plan (including the "monumental achievement" of the glorious Israeli armed forces which succeeded in cross the 5 kilometers from its assembly areas to the beach).

So the bottom line is this: this war is too early to call. There are some worrying signs coming out of Hamas, but what will really decide where all this goes is the tactical situation on the ground. My hopes are not so much with the (decidedly unimpressive) political leadership of Hamas as with the people of Gaza. It is their willpower to resist which will determine the outcome of this war.

Norman Gary Finkelstein comments about the war on Gaza

Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah Speech of January 2nd, 2009

The speech delivered by Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on the sixth night of Ashura in the central council held in Sayyed Ashuhadaa (pbuh) Compound in Rweiss.

…. The factor of faith is the important factor that was introduced to the element of resistance in our current age. We respect and esteem all resistance movements, resistance cases, resistance factions and all previous and current fighters and peoples who resisted. But there are differences at times in factors of strength and factors of weakness. In the struggle with the Israeli enemy, let's take the model of Lebanon and then I'll go to the model of Gaza because what is taking place day after day affirms what we've said on the first night that it's a Palestinian replica of July Aggression 2006.

The main development that took place in Lebanon after 1982- i.e. in the eighties and nineties -and is still continuous to this time is the introduction of the factor of faith – faith in Allah, the resurrection, Doom's Day, Heaven and Hell, judgment, reward and punishment, martyrdom and the reward of martyrs, jihad and the reward of fighters and their lofty status. This factor was powerfully introduced and the issue wasn't anymore that of a meter of land we fight for restoring though its duty to restore it; or a river we fight to restore though it's our duty to restore it; or the sovereignty which we have to safeguard and it's our duty to do so. This is a duty we have to perform. But when man's aspirations become much more than land, water, sovereignty, the world, the Globe, the skies and lands and touch on that vast world, "the Heaven which broad width is as that of the skies and lands set for the chaste", to the status of fighters and the martyrs which Allah, the Almighty allotted for them on Doom's Day, morals, spirituality, will, determination and motives become different. In such cases, the ability to bear calamities and to stand the loss of the beloved, the dear, the children, money and wealth becomes something else. The ability becomes different because it's in the eye of Allah and in the path of Allah. So if it's reserved by Allah it will not be lost in vain but rather it'll be rewarded and Allah the Generous and the Bountiful will make the best reward for fighters and well-doers.

This comprehension, this faith and this knowledge is what made the resistance in Lebanon continue, develop, grow and remain steadfast and made our people bear calamities. What are the interpretations the world gave for such public models which were presented in July 2006 War. How did they interpret the people's steadfastness, firmness adherence to the resistance despite the demolition of tens of thousands of residential units and the displacement of more than a million human beings? For 33 days they remained outside their homes then they returned proud, clinging and backing the resistance. Where can they find such a model? This is the factor of faith we are talking about. This is when we believe our deeds are in the eye of Allah. In Karbala, when Al Hussein (pbuh) offered his companions, household members and brethrens and was left alone in the battlefield, he asked for some water for his enfant. His child was slaughtered. He gathered the blood in the palms of his hands and threw them towards the horizons and said: "What makes me stand all this is that it's in the eye of Allah." This is the culture of faith and fighting with this background.

This culture – the factor of faith – was introduced forcefully to the side of resistance in the Arab-Israeli struggle. This is what is not comprehended so far by the Zionists and they won't be able to comprehend. This is not comprehended also by some Arab rulers who collaborate with the Zionists who believe that with a war like July 2006 War they can wipe the Lebanese resistance from existence, and with a war like these days war they can wipe the Palestinian resistance from existence. They are mistaken. Neither they nor their masters can comprehend that this battle has entered a totally different stage. For two decades at least, this struggle has entered a new stage. This new stage's motive, title, and incentive are the belief in Allah, trust in Allah, content in Allah, dependence on Allah, and hope to win Allah's reward whatever the worldly results were. So it's one of the two good results either victory or martyrdom. Both are good results hoped to be bestowed by Allah, the Al Mighty.

When the factor of faith is introduced to the battle, there won't be any place for defeat and psychological breakdown. That's because if the fighter gained martyrdom he would've won and if he gained victory, he would've won. Thus Al Hussein (pbuh) considered what befell him in Karbala as a victory. It's rather the greatest victory that changed the route of this world and the Hereafter.

Today such a faithful, steadfast, patient, God-trusting, God-believing resistance is fighting in Gaza whether fighters or leaders. The whole world is waiting to see the consequences of shelling unarmed civilians which is killing hundreds. The whole world is waiting to see the resistance raising white flags and the people of Gaza rebelling against the resistance, abandoning it and announcing their surrender. That's what's taking place now.

Unfortunately, on the Arab official level, the aggression started on Saturday, but the Arab foreign ministers didn't convene until Wednesday. They did not agree on holding an Arab Summit or anything else. Doesn't what's taking place in Gaza deserve that Arab rulers meet on one united table? They can't meet on one table basically because they'll be due to take a united stand and decision. The most achievement made by the Arab ministerial council was forming a delegation to head to the Security Council on Monday. Why not Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday of Sunday? Even more, the Council thanked some Arab nations on their great stands that back and support the Palestinian people! Well, why Monday? I said on the first Ashura night that I'm saying things I didn't say in July 2006 War. Then we didn't need anything from Arab rulers. We didn't bet on them or ask for anything from them. We were under fire but still I used to say we want nothing from them but to leave us alone. Now what can we call what is taking place? Assuming responsibility or involvement? Why did they delay their going to the Security Council until Monday? They delayed their going so that the Israelis take their time. That means that from that date until Monday nothing will take place neither in the Security Council nor with the Arabs. Indeed it's impossible that an Islamic Summit be held? They weren't able to hold an Arab Summit. So indeed they can't hold an Islamic Summit. So until Monday, O Olmert, Livney and Barak take your time. But after Monday, you'll be embarrassing the Arab delegation who is heading to the Security Council. So it's demanded that until Monday you put a decisive end to what's going on. Still that doesn't mean that if the Israelis failed to do that before Monday, the Arabs won't be ready to give them an extra period of time that may prolong for days and weeks. This is similar to what took place during July War in which they made extra weeks' prolongation. Isn't this the bitter and painful truth? But this bet on Gaza to fall down did not work so far. These Arabs did nothing. If their stand really expresses their peoples' choice, why are they preventing demonstrations? If the Egyptian official position expresses the will of the Egyptian people, why were tens of thousands of policemen deployed in Cairo's streets to prevent any demonstration from taking place? Let the Egyptian people express their stand and viewpoint via sit-ins.

Today in many Arab countries the peoples are prevented from hitting the streets to express their viewpoints. Even this is prohibited. They'd be arrested, beaten and hurled in prisons. This took place in more than one Arab country. Those leaders don't bear to hear the cry of a few thousands in this or that street calling on them to assume their responsibility. These leaders don't comprehend what they're doing. The result of abandoning strugglers and resistance fighters was all through ages and in the modern time nothing but humiliation, disgrace, loss, dispersion and a feeling of weakness and futility. Isn't this the case now? To bet on a breakdown is futile. What we see in Gaza now is but steadfastness despite the great sacrifices and a continuation in rocket shelling on a range that's including more settlements. The debate started anew in Israel. It's important for some people that the tragedy be highlighted. True the tragedy must be highlighted. We mustn't ignore it. But we must see the other sides. The 7th day ended up and the resistance in Gaza with all its factions and people are still steadfast and firm despite the massacre. Now senior Israeli experts and analysts are saying time has gone in which Israel can decisively end a battle in six days. The six-day battle time is gone though Israel was then fighting a number of Arab countries and Arab armies on a number of fronts and it won. But now Israel is killing the people in Gaza without achieving any of the actual goals of its aggression. Here the 7th day ended up. This issue we'll tackle later while discussing defense strategies. Was the regular army alone defending Gaza the battle would have been wrapped during the first days. But since the people and the public resistance – the children of Gaza, the men of Gaza and the women of Gaza - are defending Gaza, the track went other wise. Well, Israel can wrap up in 6 days a battle against a number of Arab armies but in seven days it can't wrap up a battle against the resistance in Gaza. Still in 33 days it couldn't wrap up a battle in which it was furnished with all what it needed in its war against the resistance in Lebanon. They started talking about this. Today in Israel they are seriously talking about a political way out and a political solution. Why? That's because continuing in aerial bombarding will lead to more massacres. And those who could stand this great number of massacres can stand more because they have no other choice -because the other choice given is surrendering. The Israelis say that the only choice left after aerial targets are nearly exhausted is a land operation. They are all talking in Israel now about hesitation concerning a land operation. This is one of the consequences of the war on Lebanon. Today they recalled the first days of July War when their tanks touched Aita Road and were destroyed by bombs. Then other tanks entered but were destroyed by anti-armor weaponry. Military experts are saying if our tanks entered Gaza we don't know what is awaiting us in Gaza and we are close to elections.

True there is a bloody scene in Gaza but in Israel there is still a scene of confusion. In Gaza there is a scene of steadfastness of the resistance. I believe that this steadfastness will yield its fruit. This resistance will not be but a victorious resistance because we believe that the people who resist faithfully and sincerely while trusting in Allah and with such high readiness, firmness and patience will be rewarded in good results. Those who bet on the opposite will lose. As I said on that evening, we are before a great test, a great evidence and a new logic which will be established as a result of this resistance.

We must make sure we are among the people who have this faith, this knowledge, and this recall for the Day of Judgment and Resurrection Day so that we be worthy of assuming our responsibilities in this World. There are other sides for this topic which I'll tackle tomorrow if God wills. Peace be upon you and Allah's Mercy and blessing.

This understanding, faith and knowledge are what made the resistance in Lebanon carry on, develop, grow and remain firm and made our people steadfast. What are the interpretations which were given by the world for such public models during July 2006 War? How did they interpret that: the steadfastness and firmness of the people, their clinging to the resistance despite the demolition of tens of thousands of residential units, the displacement of more than a million human beings? For 33 days they remained outside their homes. Then they returned proud of the resistance, firm in their adherence to the resistance, supporting the resistance. Where can they find such models in the world? This is the factor of faith - seeing their deeds in the eye of Allah. When Al Hussein's (pbuh) friends, household and brethrens and he remained all alone in that battlefield, he asked for some water to his enfant. The child was slaughtered from the vein to the vain; he gathered the blood in both palms of his hands and threw it towards the Horizons and said: "what makes what have befallen me easy is that it's in the eye of Allah". This is the culture of faith and this is jihad with a faithful background.

Living on Borrowed Time in a Stolen Land

by Gilad Atzmon for Palestine Think Tank

Communicating with Israelis may leave one bewildered. Even now when the Israeli Air Force is practicing murder in broad daylight of hundreds of civilians, elderly persons, women and children, the Israeli people manage to convince themselves that they are the real victims in this violent saga.

Those who are familiar intimately with Israeli people realise that they are completely uninformed about the roots of the conflict that dominates their lives. Rather often Israelis manage to come up with some bizarre arguments that may make a lot of sense within the Israeli discourse, yet make no sense whatsoever outside of the Jewish street. Such an argument goes as follows: ‘those Palestinians, why do they insist upon living on our land (Israel), why can’t they just settle in Egypt, Syria, Lebanon or any other Arab country?’ Another Hebraic pearl of wisdom sounds like this: ‘what is wrong with these Palestinians? We gave them water, electricity, education and all they do is try to throw us to the sea’.

Astonishingly enough, the Israelis even within the so-called ‘left’ and even the educated ‘left’ fail to understand who the Palestinians are, where they come from and what they stand for. They fail to grasp that for the Palestinians, Palestine is home. Miraculously, the Israelis manage to fail to grasp that Israel had been erected at the expense of the Palestinian people, on Palestinian land, on Palestinian villages, towns, fields and orchards. The Israelis do not realise that Palestinians in Gaza and in refugee camps in the region are actually dispossessed people from Ber Shive, Yafo, Tel Kabir, Shekh Munis, Lod, Haifa, Jerusalem and many more towns and villages. If you wonder how come the Israelis don’t know their history, the answer is pretty simple, they have never been told. The circumstances that led to the Israeli Palestinian conflict are well hidden within their culture. Traces of pre-1948 Palestinian civilisation on the land had been wiped out. Not only the Nakba, the 1948 ethnic cleansing of the indigenous Palestinians, is not part of the Israeli curriculum, it is not even mentioned or discussed in any Israeli official or academic forum.

In the very centre of almost every Israeli town one can a find a 1948 memorial statue displaying a very bizarre, almost abstract, pipe work. The plumbing feature is called Davidka and it is actually a 1948 Israeli mortar cannon. Interestingly enough, the Davidka was an extremely ineffective weapon. Its shells wouldn’t reach more than 300 meters and would cause very limited damage. Though the Davidika would cause just minimal harm, it produced a lot of noise. According to the Israeli official historical narrative, the Arabs i.e., Palestinians, simply ran away for their lives once they heard the Davidka from afar. According to the Israeli narrative, the Jews i.e., ‘new Israelis’ did a bit of fireworks and the ‘Arab cowards’ just ran off like idiots. In the Israeli official narrative there is no mention of the many orchestrated massacres conducted by the young IDF and the paramilitary units that preceded it. There is no mention also of the racist laws that stop Palestinians[1][1] from returning to their homes and lands.

The meaning of the above is pretty simple. Israelis are totally unfamiliar with the Palestinian cause. Hence, they can only interpret the Palestinian struggle as a murderous irrational lunacy. Within the Israeli Judeo- centric solipsistic universe, the Israeli is an innocent victim and the Palestinian is no less than a savage murderer.

This grave situation that leaves the Israeli in the dark regarding his past demolishes any possibility of future reconciliation. Since the Israeli lacks the minimal comprehension of the conflict, he cannot contemplate any possible resolution except extermination or cleansing of the ‘enemy’. All the Israeli is entitled to know are various phantasmic narratives of Jewish suffering. Palestinian pain is completely foreign to his ears. ‘Palestinian right of return’ sounds to him like an amusing idea. Even the most advanced ‘Israeli humanists’ are not ready to share the land with its indigenous inhabitants. This doesn’t leave the Palestinians with many options but to liberate themselves against all odds. Clearly, there is no partner for peace on the Israel side.

This week we all learned more about the ballistic capability of Hamas. Evidently, Hamas was rather restrained with Israel for more than a long while. It refrained from escalating the conflict to the whole of southern Israel. It occurred to me that the barrages of Qassams that have been landing sporadically on Sderot and Ashkelon were actually nothing but a message from the imprisoned Palestinians. First it was a message to the stolen land, homes fields and orchards: ‘Our beloved soil, we didn’t forget, we are still here fighting for you, sooner rather than later, we will come back, we will start again where we had stopped’. But it was also a clear message to the Israelis. ‘You out there, in Sderot, Beer Sheva, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Tel Aviv and Haifa, whether you realise it or not, you are actually living on our stolen land. You better start to pack because your time is running out, you have exhausted our patience. We, the Palestinian people, have nothing to lose anymore’.

Let’s face it, realistically the situation in Israel is rather grave. Two years ago it was Hezbollah rockets that pounded northern Israel. This week the Hamas proved beyond doubt that it is capable of serving the South of Israel with some cocktail of ballistic vengeance. Both in the case of the Hezbollah and the case of the Hamas, Israel was left with no military answer. It can no doubt kill civilians but it fails to stop the rocket barrage. The IDF lacks the means of protecting Israel unless covering Israel with a solid concrete roof is a viable solution. At the end of the day, they might be planning just that (link).

But this is far from the end of the story. In fact it is just the beginning. Every Middle East expert knows that Hamas can seize control of the West Bank within hours. In fact, PA and Fatah control in the West Bank is maintained by the IDF. Once Hamas takes the West Bank, the biggest Israeli population centre will be left to the mercy of Hamas. For those who fail to see, this would be the end of Jewish Israel. It may happen later today, it may happen in three months or in five years, it isn’t matter of ‘if’ but rather matter of ‘when’. By that time, the whole of Israel will be within firing range of Hamas and Hezbollah, Israeli society will collapse, its economy will be ruined. The price of a detached villa in Northern Tel Aviv would equal a shed in Kiryat Shmone or Sderot. By the time a single rocket hits Tel Aviv, the Zionist dream will be over.

The IDF generals know it, the Israeli leaders know it. This is why they stepped up the war against the Palestinian into extermination. The Israelis do not plan upon invading Gaza. They have lost nothing there. All they want is to finish the Nakba. They drop bombs on Palestinians in order to wipe them out. They want the Palestinians out of the region. It is obviously not going to work, Palestinians will stay. Not only they will they stay, their day of return to their land is coming closer as Israel has been exploiting its deadliest tactics.

This is exactly where Israeli escapism comes into play. Israel has passed the ‘point of no return’. Its doomed fate is deeply engraved in each bomb it drops on Palestinian civilians. There is nothing Israel can do to save itself. There is no exit strategy. It can’t negotiate its way out because neither the Israelis nor their leadership understand the elementary parameters involved in the conflict. Israel lacks the military power to conclude the battle. It may manage to kill Palestinian grassroots leaders, it has been doing it for years, yet Palestinian resistance and persistence is growing fierce rather than weakening. As an IDF intelligence general predicted already at the first Intifada. ‘In order to win, all Palestinians have to do is to survive’. They survive and they are indeed winning.

Israeli leaders understand it all. Israel has already tried everything, unilateral withdrawal, starvation and now extermination. It thought to evade the demographic danger by shrinking into an intimate cosy Jewish ghetto. Nothing worked. It is Palestinian persistence in the shape of Hamas politics that defines the future of the region.

All that is left to Israelis is to cling to their blindness and escapism to evade their devastating grave fate that has become immanent already. All along their way down, the Israelis will sing their familiar various victim anthems. Being imbued in a self-centred supremacist reality, they will be utterly involved in their own pain yet completely blind to the pain they inflict on others. Uniquely enough, the Israelis are operating as a unified collective when dropping bombs on others, yet, once being slightly hurt, they all manage to become monads of vulnerable innocence. It is this discrepancy between the self-image and the way they are seen by the rest of us which turns the Israeli into a monstrous exterminator. It is this discrepancy that stops Israelis from grasping their own history, it is that discrepancy that stops them from comprehending the repeated numerous attempts to destroy their State. It is that discrepancy that stops Israelis from understanding the meaning of the Shoah so can they prevent the next one. It is this discrepancy that stops Israelis from being part of humanity.

Once again Jews will have to wander into an unknown fate. To a certain extent, I myself have started my journey a while ago.
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[1] Jews only law of return- http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/1950_1959/Law of Return 5710-1950; read more- http://www.australiansforpalestine.com/press_room/briefing/papers/BriefingPaperNo35_17Aug07_TheLawofReturncopy.pdf

Israeli forces enter Gaza - the mind game starts

The Israelis have entered Gaza. The important thing to understand now is that the outcome of this ground assault will be decided by how Hamas will react to it. Simply put, this assault is first and foremost a mindgame designed to crush the will of the Palestinian resistance. For the next 36-48 hours we will hear many reports of Israeli "successes" including seized Qassam rocket factories, destroyed headquarters, killed commanders,and many Hamas prisoners. This "information" will be 50% outright lies and 50% disinformation with no basis in any reality. Next to that, I predict that the Israelis will really succeed in cutting the Gaza Strip into several districts. That in itself will be presented as a major "victory". Again, let me repeat this one more time:

ALL OF THIS IS NONSENSE!

First, neither the Israelis, nor the Palestinians, not anyone else will be able to really know what effect this ground operation will really have on the ground. It will take a least 48 hours to get a sense of what really happened on the ground in military terms.

Second, the outcome will be result of *perceptions*. If Hamas fights Israel from day one until the exit of the Israelis then this operation will be deemed as a failure by most people. If Hamas "folds" and accepts some kind of "deal" then it will be an Israeli "victory".

Thirdly, time is on Hamas' side: following the first 48 hours, each passing day things will see things get worse for the Israelis. Therefore, my guess is that if Hamas succeeds in actively resisting for one week or so the Israelis will essentially be defeated. If Hamas "folds" it will be very soon, in the next couple of days.

For the first time in their history the Palestinians have the opportunity to inflict a painful defeat upon the Israelis. Hopefully, they will seize it.

Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah Speech of December 31, 2008

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s speech delivered during the central Ashura Council –Sayyed Ashuhada (pbuh) Compound 31 – 12 -2008

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the world. It is evidently clear that many people in Lebanon and especially after the invasion in 1982 started assuming responsibility. I mean that should Israel in 1982 have occupied Lebanon, people would have said what have we to do with that? Let Israel stay in our land! What have we to do with that? Let Israel stay in our land! What have we to do with fighting and politics and the like! Israel would’ve named rulers, formed the parliament, plundered our waters and wealth and hurled our youths in prisons. We have the Wazani in our lands and still we don’t benefit from its waters. What if Israel was present here?

So people are assuming their responsibility. They have driven away the occupiers and resisted until occupiers were expelled from the capital Beirut, Mount Lebanon, Bekaa, Sidon, Tyr and the Border Line. People did not say this is the duty of the people of Bint Jbeil, Hasbaya and Marjoun, and not our duty. Let them liberate their lands! No, it’s rather the national feeling and the sense of legal and moral responsibility that made resistance persist. Starting 1985 till 2000 when the Border Line was liberated, we are still all adherent to the resistance pursuant to our sense of responsibility and not for luxury. We have two choices: either to live with humiliation or to live freely with dignity on our land. If we chose the second choices, there are consequences and sacrifices. That’s why people cling to the resistance. This sense of responsibility leads to clinging to the resistance. This was most clearly manifested in July Aggression in 2006 and consequently the resistance remained steadfast. The resistance fighters remained steadfast. The people remained and embraced and defended the resistance. They refused that the resistance be harmed even if in words. They bore a grudge against everyone who was biased against the resistance, who used to fail the resistance and who used to do harm to the resistance despite the demolition, wounds, killings and great number of martyrs and injured. Thus was the victory in July.

Today what’s taking place in Gaza Strip? I said on the first day – and praise be to Allah what we’ve said on the first day is proving to be right so far – that what’s taking place there is a Palestinian replica of what happened in Lebanon in July 2006: the onset of the battle, the background of the war and its course. The war has started days ago. I like to say that in general what’s taking place in Gaza – the steadfastness, the resistance, the patience and firmness – is among the blessings of this sense of responsibility the people of Gaza are assuming whether its people, resistance fighters and leaders. This faithful, powerful, responsible struggling practice springs from their moral status, struggling and national and religious status; their belief and trust in Allah, the Al Mighty. They see that what’s befalling them – the pain and calamities – is in the eye of Allah and in the path of Allah, the Al Mighty. Their slogan is well known: “Sufficient unto us is Allah and how good is our Trustee.”

Well, let’s evaluate what’s taking place now on the light of our experience in July Aggression. I want you to listen to this issue and I want people to listen to this. There are two scenes: a scene which is controlling the media: intensive Israeli raids, the number of martyrs which is around 400, thousands of injured, demolition… Well, this is one scene. But this is not the whole scene and we can’t judge the battle in Gaza through this scene only. Let’s look from the other perspectives as we used to say in July War.

The first point: the Israelis have said many times that they have benefited from the lessons they drew from Lebanon’s Second War. But it seems that the resistance in Gaza is the one who benefited from these lessons and is following them practically more than the Israelis while the latter’s benefit is making them weaker, frailer and more hesitant. I’ll go through some titles:

The first title: Goals: You may’ve noticed that so far the Israelis haven’t named one clear goal for the war on Gaza! Neither Olmert, nor Livney nor Barak had. During July War, they went very much high since the first day. They put unachievable goals especially when dealing with such a steadfast resistance and such people who embrace the resistance. But now what is the announced goal from the war? Unknown! They did not even say that the goal is ousting the government of Hamas or putting an end to the state of resistance in Gaza.

The enemy’s deputy premier was reported as saying the goal is toppling Hamas government. No soon this was denied. Still, they don’t dare say that their aim is stopping rocket launching from Gaza. Well, what’s the goal? Indeed there is a much loose goal which bears many interpretations: changing the status on the ground. This is a loose title. Why are the Israelis running away from announcing a definite goal for the war? When they started they were afraid of flopping. They were suspicious of their ability of achieving goals. This is the first sign of frailty.

Our brethren fighters in the resistance in Palestine – through the stands of their leaders and people in Gaza – are moving with their trust in victory, certainty and persistency. But the Israelis are afraid from the beginning and worried whether they will be able to achieve their goals or not. Indeed there is an actual goal for the war which is being revealed day after day: ousting the government of Hamas, the resistance factions as a whole and the resistance in Gaza. This is taking place as the new administration in America takes power while information stresses – depending on very important sources – that there are preparations for an international conference to be attended by the Americans, Israelis, Europeans and so called moderate Arabs. The true problem is the Palestinian resistance and Hamas government in Gaza. Getting rid of this stumbling block is demanded to go to the international conference which puts an end to this struggle and imposes a humiliating settlement on the Palestinians. This is the true goal of the war that is taking place but they don’t dare announce it. Olmert today said Arab leaders contacted him and stressed on him to carry on the military operation. Still Israel which, claims power and strength and says it wants to restore its deterrence image doesn’t dare announce this goal for the war on Gaza because it’s not sure of achieving any goals.

Secondly: let’s go back to the first day of the operation and the scenario that was implemented on the first day. I’d like to tell you – as I told you in July War – it’s a show of God’s mercy that we kidnapped that Israeli soldiers on July 12th or else the war was schemed for us on fall 2006. The fall 2006 scenario was very similar to what’s taking place in Gaza. The world sent it reassuring notes. Some 80 warplanes took off and shelled in three minutes a hundred tons of explosives on positions in Gaza! A great number of martyrs fell. This is a war but what’s important is that Gaza grasped the first blow and emerged firm and solid. In this Israeli scheme, some Arab countries are involved. I insist on that. These countries would have warned: don’t let your performance be similar to that in Lebanon. Don’t take 33 days and then prove futile. Let go in a few days. We can’t stand demonstrations, pressure and the media. So it was supposed that the first aerial blow on the first day lead to the collapse of Hamas government and the Palestinian factions while causing the largest number of martyrs and wounded among leaderships of the resistance. The resistance would then contact the concerned Arab countries and tell them: wrap it up in whatever form. We can’t carry on. This is what was schemed. Then when the collapse happen and when it would’ve been reported to the Israelis via the collaborators in Gaza or through some Arab governments that the status of the resistance in Gaza is shaking and hard, the land operation starts to be confronted by a collapsing miserable difficult status on behalf of the resistance. This was the scheme. Thus the operation must’ve taken few days as they assumed in July Aggression. Four days after the aggression, Olmert announced victory but Allah Al Mighty who guarded us in Lebanon will guard our people in Gaza.

Our brothers in Gaza woke up from the shock and grasped the situation. True there are many martyrs and wounded but the build-up of the resistance is still united. The resistance military and political leaders are still safe. The available capacities are not seriously harmed. The Israelis confess that. Consequently, the Palestinians took the initiative and started shelling rockets. On the very first day on which the resistance was supposed to fall down in Gaza, Israeli settlements were bombarded.

Thirdly: Still the air force is to accomplish its mission. The air force is not able to decisively end the battle. It’s not I who is saying that. It’s Phinograd and his committee and the Israeli society. Now these are the goals. The Israelis are saying so. There are no more goals for warships to bombard. In Lebanon too, after four or five days they were through with the goals: centers, headquarters, houses of leaders and storehouses. They were through with all goals they know. When they had no more targets they bombarded the people’s houses and buildings that they’d left. This is not much compared to what they’re doing in Gaza. That’s because in Lebanon, people left the South, the southern suburbs (Dahieh), Baalbeck, Hirmil and West Bekaa among various other regions. The Israelis were bombarding relatively uninhabited regions. While in Gaza, there are more than one and half a million human beings. Wherever they bombard, houses will be demolished on heads of the people. The Israelis can carry on doing this for one, two, three days no mote. Leaders are not more within the reach of the Israelis. Consequently, what goals the Israelis want to bombard in Gaza? Now the Israelis are spreading unmanned airplanes over Gaza which are tracking cars, ambulances, trucks which are carrying gas bottles under the pretext of carrying rockets as they did in July 2006 when they rocked water drillers. Consequently, air goals are exhausted. Should the air force carry on for several days, it’ll not be able to decisively end the battle in Gaza. Even if the battle continued, what are the choices? A land operation? Before going to a land operation, let’s watch the scene in Gaza. In Gaza, the resistance is taking the initiative. It’s shelling rockets. Let’s take into consideration the area of Gaza and the places which can be targeted from it and compare it to Lebanon keeping in mind the differences in distances and capacities. We find that the resistance is launching daily between 50 and 70 rockets as an average. Barak is even arousing them saying the resistance can launch 200 rockets. Maybe they can shell 200 to 300 rockets. That doesn’t mean that they are taking into consideration doing that. As with the resistance in Lebanon, I assure you. During July Aggression, we had the ability to launch 1000, 2000 or even 3000 rockets. We had no problem in that; neither in the ammunition nor in our status in the field. The brothers in Gaza are taking control of the number of rockets because they are taking time into consideration. This is from the lessons of the war. Being able to shell this number of rockets daily is a great and important achievement. So far, the Israelis and their air force couldn’t claim that they have targeted one rocket propeller as couldn’t in Lebanon. They hit the propeller after rockets are launched. They find it and destroy it. This is not important. What’s important is that they hit it before rockets are launched. So far they aren’t able to do that in Gaza. So rockets will continue to be shelled. As to what range, I’ll give you Israeli numbers:

If we are talking about a radius of 20 kilometers from Gaza Strip, the number of settlements and Israeli cities is 115 settlements inhabited with 261 thousand settlers. If we are talking about a radius of 30 kilometers, the number of settlements is 168 cities and settlements including the city of Bir Sabaa which is a very important city. The number of settlers in these settlements is 555 thousands. If we talked about 40 kilometers – and the brothers in Gaza shelled rockets from Gaza which reached 40 kilometers away from Gaza – the number of settlements is 208 inhabited by more than 635 thousand settlers. Now you know, if one, ten or a hundred rockets were shelled on a settlement, there are measures to be taken. “There are elections daily there.” They hide the settlers to the shelters. Schools, universities and factories are put off. They have done that already. This is the deed of “weak Gaza”. Still some blabbers show up on some Arab channels and say: “The eye can’t resist the broach.” This is Gaza with its humble capacities but strong will. Now it’s putting at stake 208 settlements and cities and 635 thousand Israelis. This negatively affects the Israelis on the economic, psychological, “American” and financial levels. Gaza is able to carry on this way. “You are not able to stop rocket launching”. The air force is not able to decisively put an end to the battle. On the other hand, the resistance woke up from the shock. It’s taking the initiative. More important, the people of Gaza – like the people in Lebanon – embraced and are still embracing the resistance. The Israelis are saying also that if you are waiting for demonstrations to take place against the resistance and for women and children to come and call on the resistance to give in that will not take place. That did not take place in Lebanon and did not and will not take place in Gaza. We are hearing in the media what the people of Gaza are saying. So as long as the leadership is courageous and firm and as long as the field resistance is steady and faithful and as long as people are patient and steadfast, what can air force do? Still we have the land operation. I’m not saying there is no land operation. I can’t say whether there is a land operation or not. But it’s clear that so far the Israelis are clearly hesitant concerning a land operation. That’s because the aggression comes closely before Israeli elections are due. So it’s a double-edged sword. It’s a sword in their hands if they gained victory and a sword against them if they flopped. So they are swinging between the possibility of winning and flopping. They aren’t sure they will win. So what’s making them hesitant is that they fear they’d flop. This is what Israeli analysts and military experts are saying. Yes, there is an actual fear they’d flop. First Ehud Barak – who is on the verge of elections - would be held responsible for any flop. Secondly Livney and Kadima Party will also be held responsible and they are also on the doors of elections. Then come Natanyahu and Likud Party who overbids them saying: Were I the head of the cabinet, I would have done such and such and won and achieved my goals. So this is a factor of worry especially that they are facing in a limited area one and a half million human beings who are embracing the resistance and tens of thousands of fighters. Now a land operation doesn’t need high tech capacities if the will and determination are there. As far as I know that’s available in Gaza Strip. So the Israelis have the right to feel frightened and hesitant and be worried about embarking in a land operation and true confrontation. Men to men confrontation will reveal the Israeli failure and shouts will be heard high. So far, I can say that what took place there is similar to what took place here. So if fighters carried on there, victory will be awaiting them as it was here. Time is not on the side of Israel despite martyrs and demolition. Time and demonstrations are pressing on all those involved and on the enemy from all perspectives. So until this very moment, I can say that what’s recorded in Gaza is but victory despite the pure bloodshed. It’s a victory as long as there is steadfastness, as long as there is resistance and as long as the leadership and the people’s will is firm and steady and refuses submitting to the humiliating conditions. So until now Israel is in a state of failure. If you still remember, during the last days of July War, I told you: the feeblest air force is able to kill children and civilians and demolish universities and mosques and not the strongest air force in the Middle East which is the Israeli air force. The touchstone is the land operation. In Lebanon, when the land operation started and tanks destruction and soldier killing started while rocket shelling continued, time was to the interest of the resistance and not Israel. Until this very moment, the Israelis refuse to make a temporary stop of fire due to a French, Turkish or European demand. Why? Because as they said a temporary stop of fire now is a total Israeli flop. That’s because Israel did not achieve any of its goals. That’s because Israel did not achieve any of its hidden goals. Nothing changed. Martyrs fell. Houses were demolished. This is the nature of wars. But let’s talk about the goals of war. It hasn’t achieved any of its goals. So I like to conclude saying this war will end with an Israeli flop, God willing. The responsibility of the nation as I said since the first day of the war: we still insist on calling on Arab rulers and we insist that Arab peoples call on the Egyptian government to open Rafah Cross point.

If anyone still has doubt that Gaza Strip will win, after these days, no one must be doubtful. If Gaza Strip will win and it’s besieged, what if the cross point was opened and it was destined that the wounded be transferred, their wounds soothed and aids made accessible. Providing support and aids is necessary to the people of Gaza and the resistance in Gaza. All what we’ve heard during the past two days from Egyptian officials and all feeble pretexts they gave for not opening Rafah Cross point do not convince anyone in neither the Arab nor Islamic worlds. These pretexts do not convince anyone who has mind and conscience. These pretexts have no political, legal, moral or religious values. The duty still necessitates opening the cross point because the war is still ongoing. You and we all over the Arab and Islamic worlds must carry on taking action and providing whatever form of support to this resistance in whose victory we believe. That’s because we believe in its faithfulness, sincerity and steadiness. This victory – as that in Lebanon – is a divine evidence to the whole world. Gaza’s evidence will be a greater evidence even because the circumstances are more difficult and the conspiracy is more knit and the involvement is deeper. Our brethrens are fighting in much more difficult conditions. We have a great hope – God willing – in achieving this goal and in the divine promise in the failure of this diabolic conspiracy. So we must all be on the side of the brethren fighters. I say my final word based on a sense of moral, human, national, religious and legal responsibility. Peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings.

The anthem of the glorious and invincible "Tsahal"

(The anthem of the Israeli military by Robert)

If Hizbollah fucked us up
And made us run with our tails between our legs
Lets pound our chests to the prisoners of Gaza Hell yeah

If all our threats to pulverise Iran serves only as comic relief
Lets snuff the lives out of the Jabaliyans Hell yeah

If our illusion of invincibility is forever shattered
Lets flatten Rafa Hell yeah

When our neurotic and imaginery superiority is forever rendered moot
Lets show the defenceless of Khan Yunis how brave we are Hell yeah

If we are terrified of taking on the soldiers of Hamas
Let’s send in F-16s and Apaches Hell yeah

If the hand of time is dealing our Zionist dream a cruel blow
Let the wretched of Deir al Balah feel the full force of our frustration. Hell yeah

If the knowledge that taking on Iran would sound the death knell of our racist project
Lets have an orgy while the defenceless of Al Shati are incinerated. Hell yeah

We are the soldiers of the IDF
Forward we march, except when confronted by Hizbullah. Oh yeah

We are the proudest of ethnic cleansers
We wear that badge with honour and pride. Fuck yeah

A very interesting idea: sue the bastards!

There is an interesting idea being floated around by the Iranian government and other circles. The idea is to sue Israel and/or Israeli leader for war crimes, crimes against humanity and even genocide. Sounds silly? Think again.

It all began when the government of Iran asked the ICC to issue warrants for the arrest of Israeli leaders. Soon thereafter a US professor, Francis Anthony Boyle, has offered the Iranian President a plan according to which he would open a legal case against Israel. Boyle has interesting views on this topic (see his article about the legal basis for prosecution) and his offer could do something very useful: internationalize the effort to sue the Israelis.

I find this very interesting. First, it shows that Iran is willing to actually do something to help the Palestinians (proving the Iran bashers wrong, yet again). Second, while the actual probability of seeing Olmert or Livni sitting next to Karadzic in the Hague is remote, there is a huge potential for all sorts of legal headaches for the Israeli leaders in their travels. Think about it, literally any judge in any country might issue an arrest warrant for any Israeli leader (even without an ICC warrant, by the way). Of course, the vast majority governments of the world will immediately bail out any Isareli official in trouble (after all, who would dare alienate the USraelian Empire?), but still - imagine the embarrasment. Thirdly, with the USraelien Empire in decline there just might be a country where such an arrest would "stick" and where the charge would actually go to a court (remember Pinochet).

Lastly, this example shows that there are things a government can do to help the Palestinians short of declaring a war on Israel. The fact that *all* the Arab governments are simply "sitting on their hands" is not due the a lack of options but to a shameful lack of will and care.

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's speech delivered on December 29th in solidarity with Gaza

In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah the Lord of the World and peace be on our Master and Prophet - the seal of the Prophets – Abi Al Qassem Mohammad bin Abdullah and on his pure and chaste Household and chosen companions and on all prophets and messengers.

First we address the pure souls of Gaza martyrs - men, women, children, adults, infants and resistance fighters – and offer them the reward of reading Al Fatiheh.

Peace be upon you all. First, many thanks and high estimation for your answering this call – the call of solidarity. You are today in this place in this cold whether expressing your continuing commitment to answering this call annually. Today is one of Al Hussein's (pbuh) days and one of the days of struggle and one of the days of martyrdom. You've always answered the call without any hesitation. Nothing prevented you from answering the call ever: neither chilling cold, nor the burning sun, nor an internal threat, nor an external enemy. You in the southern suburbs, under the rain, you're the resistance. Under the shelling, you are the resistance. In risks, you're the resistance. You are qualified for such a call. You are answering the call of Al Hussein (pbuh) through the ages – this call which represents every oppressed, persecuted human being, every man deprived of his rights, besieged and threatened and every man committed to his dignity, honor, humanity and rights.

Today, you are answering the call of that great Imam, His Eminence Sayyed Khamenai (May Allah prolong his lifetime) for the nation – and we are part of this nation - to express its solidarity, consolation, sorrow and pride in the martyrs. We say to our people in Gaza: your sorrow is ours; your happiness is ours; your pain is ours; your wound is ours. Today you are answering the call of our steadfast people there who are day and night under shelling. You know what shelling means. You know what house demolishing means and what emigration of those beloved, the killing of men and children and the steadfastness of resistance fighters on the confrontation fronts mean. Thus your answer today was a natural answer that goes in harmony with your present time, your history and with the hope set on you. Though your answer is natural, it is still worthy of our thanks because it shows your obligation and is but a cry to be heard by the whole world which must comprehend that Gaza is not alone and that Palestine will remain in the mind, conscience and heart of this nation. Neither decades, nor scores of betraying media means, nor the retreat of some political elites which claim culture and education, nor time passing, nor much bloodshed can wipe Palestine from the mind and heart of the nation. That's because time can't make what's righteous unjust and what's unjust righteous. Palestine will remain righteous and Israel unjust and whoever stands with Israel is backing righteousness and whoever fails to back Palestine is unjust.

Brothers and sisters:

We meet again today during Al Hussein days and martyrdom days to show our pride in Gaza martyrs and at the same time offer our condolence. We and you are the nation of martyrs. We hold the culture of martyrs. The culture of martyrdom means the culture of true life with dignity and pride. It's the culture of standing steadfast on our feet with our heads raised up. We know the status Allah Al Mighty gave the martyrs. The martyrs in Gaza as the martyrs in Lebanon fell in the most clear, the greatest and the holiest battle. If you searched worldwide for a clearly legal battle on the religious, lawful, moral, political and humanistic level, you won't find a clearer battle. These are the martyrs in the path to Allah. And is the path to Allah other than the path of the oppressed, whether men, women or children? Is it other than the path of human dignity? Is it other than the path of defending the sanctities and restoring Al Qods and refusing to give up one grain of the holy land soil.

Pleased be the martyrs of Gaza. They gained the pride, happiness, high status and the eternal life all the martyrs in the path of resistance and defending the dignity of the nation and its sanctities have gained. Brothers and sisters, today we adhere again to our responsibility. I don't mean what I said yesterday. I have more to say concerning the ongoing confrontation. First in the name of those gathering here, in your name all of you, I like to address first His Eminence the President of the Lebanese Republic General Michael Suleiman saying: we call on you as a consensus president of Lebanon to exert effort and play a central role in moving towards holding an Arab Summit because some are working against holding such a summit for other considerations. The president of the Lebanese Republic may take into consideration the Lebanese consensus that condemns the aggression on Gaza and it's supposed that all Lebanese condemn and have condemned this oppressive aggression. He may depend on the Lebanese consensus calling for halting the aggression on Gaza unconditionally and Lebanon is among the countries which have suffered mostly from aggressions, massacres, demolitions and killing. So he may depend on this national consensus to play an intensified role towards holding a summit without any considerations or Arab sensitivity. Today the Lebanese official position must be in solidarity with the people of Gaza and not with this or that Arab regime. These are diabolic considerations. Humanistic considerations say that Lebanon publicly and officially stand with those who are being killed, slaughtered and shelled in Gaza. In Gaza, children and women are being killed; mosques, worship centers, schools, universities and medical warehouses are being shelled. The Lebanese President may also depend on Lebanon's experience with the victorious resistance which he had followed up from his position as the head of the army during July War in which Lebanon – as army, resistance and people – gained victory. As such, the president is called upon to play a central role in the summit. As we have heard his courageous voice in the Interfaith Summit in the United Nations, the voice of Lebanon via the voice of the President must reverberate in any Arab Summit refusing to give up any rights while courageously backing the oppressed, sacrificing and tortured Palestinian people.

Secondly, today I address the Palestinian people in and outside Palestine to unite, adhere to each other and cooperate. Mistaken is he who believes that this war is on Hamas or the government of Hamas. The war is on the Palestinian people, on the will of the Palestinian people and on the rights of the Palestinian people. Here I want to clarify a point to Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq and to every nation. Brothers and sisters, as for the US government, its project is to control the region and to consolidate Israel as the central arrogant power superior to all governments and peoples in the region. It's not concerned with who rules in Lebanon, or in Gaza or in Ramallah, or in Baghdad, or in Kabul or in any capital, or Arab or Islamic country. The US administration is not concerned with ideologies, beliefs, religions, races and nationalities. I frankly tell you, the US administration has no objections should an Islamic party or movement rule any Arab or Islamic country. Whoever believes that the battle is with an Islamic movement or government or the like is mistaken. The Americans have no problem in principle should the ruler be an Islamist, a socialist, a Marxist, a Leninist, a Maoist, or a nationalist. It doesn't matter to them whatever your beliefs and ideologies are. What counts is your political program - your position from Israel and America. Do you agree to sell oil for low prices for US companies? Do you accept submission to the US administration and interests? Do you recognize Israel and make a humiliating reconciliation with Israel? Are you ready to give up your sanctities, your nation's soil and your people's rights? What's your political program?

That's what rules the US stance towards any party, movement, organization, group, rule or political regime in the Arab and Islamic world. The evidence on what I say – and I'm not concerned to issue sentences whether positively or negatively. Enough with troubles – is Afghanistan. Islamic movements and parties are represented in the Afghani government. In Iraq, the president has two vice presidents; both are members in Islamic parties. The Iraqi premier is a member in an Islamic party. The Americans have no problem should the Palestinian government be ruled by an Islamic movement whether Hamas, Fateh, Jihad, the Public Front or whatever organization or faction from among the Palestinian factions. The Americans and the Israelis are not concerned with our prayers and fasting. Pray, fast and make pilgrimage to Mecca as much as you want, but leave control and the great political interests to be schemed by America and Israel. So the conflict is not with Hamas as an Islamic movement or with the Palestinian factions in Gaza as a result of their ideological, religious and intellectual affiliations but rather as a result of their political resisting program. I want to stress this point again in going back to year 2000 which I mentioned yesterday when I talked about Camp David negotiations between Barak and late president Yasser Arafat. Fateh Movement was categorized as a terrorist movement. But it was wiped from the terrorist list as it entered negotiations. President Arafat was allowed to enter Palestine and form the Palestinian authority. But in Camp David, in the last negotiations with Barak in 2000 when he refused to submit to the conditions set by Clinton and Barak and refused the settlement which was offered to him in Camp David which was backed by some Arab regimes, he returned to Ramallah. He was isolated, boycotted, combated and abandoned by the so called free world. He spent the last month of his life besieged in Ramallah District. Then they wrought and proceeded in killing him with poison as reports are showing.

Your convictions and your movement's identity, the color of your flag; yellow, green, black, brown, red… don't matter. What's being fought today in Gaza is your political agenda and not your Islamic name and movement. What's being fought is the program of the resistance. I frankly tell you, should brother Khaled Mishaal or any leader in Hamas contact any Arab or European agent and tell him we are ready to recognize Israel, to go to negotiations with Israel and to confer all the conditions for a settlement with Israel, instantly the shelling will come to an end in Gaza and killing stops. Hamas will be welcomed. They'll have no problem in making it assume power not only in Gaza but in the West Bank also. So no one must be misled. Such was the issue in Lebanon. Don't imagine that the US and Israel's problem with Hezbollah in Lebanon for instance is because it is an Islamic party or a religious party. Never! Now the Americas are saying concerning the upcoming elections: should the opposition win, such and such will take palce and they threaten the Lebanese! Now I tell you if any leader in Hezbollah contacted the Americans- and they wish to contact, sit, talk and negotiate with us – and tells them: Well we as a party are ready to recognize Israel, bargain the resistance, and tackle the Lebanese sovereignty, the Americans will help us to assume power in Lebanon along with our allies. They don't have problem with our prayers, fasting, scholars and beards. Their problem is with our political agenda which refuses giving up a grain of our soil, any of our prisoners, our dignity, our honor, our true sovereignty and our true independence. The same applies in Palestine today. The target in Gaza is not Hamas, Jihad or the resistance factions. The target in Gaza is the resistance, the Palestinian will, the Palestinian adherence to rights. Thus I add my voice to all the Palestinian leaderships which have called for a third Intifada in Palestine and to more uprisings all over the Arab and Islamic worlds. Gaza today is a nation entangled in a decisive battle for Palestine and not only for the government of Hamas. Thus the call for all the Palestinian factions to unite, abandon conflicts, cooperate, keep away from preconditions and work seriously to halt the aggression without allowing this aggression to achieve any of its goals.

Thirdly, today we renew our call to the Arab and Islamic peoples to continue their action because the aggression is continuing and because the aggressive will is strong and it needs strong confrontation. In April Aggression 1996 on Lebanon, Qana unequaled massacre and in 2006, Qana second massacre at least embarrassed the Zionists. It halted its operations after 48 hours. But what took place in Gaza is that the war started with a massacre and still the aggression did not stop neither in that day nor during the following hours. This means that they're insisting on making use of the time given to Israel to make the greatest possible achievement. Here we address the Arab leaders to make haste even if they didn't hold a summit. Let them make true efforts. Let's call on them to exert effort. But the final word remains to the battlefield. We are making our call here. Cries are heard here and in many Arab and Islamic capitals, praise be to Allah. People are hitting the streets in thousands, tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands. This is a good sign. The scenes we are witnessing today in Arab and Islamic capitals weren't seen during July War 2006. This is a clear advancement in the position of the nation and its peoples. The people's action must escalate hour after hour, day after day. We are all concerned; let's stand and shout. Yesterday when I talked about things clearly, I knew before hand that I'll be confronted with a stream of accusations and insults. I was ready for that. I believe that defending Gaza and the people of Gaza – meaning the nation – deserves offering our blood and falling as martyrs in the path to Allah. So what if one was subject to some insults? That's the least offered. When we call for awareness, taking stands and demonstrating, that's because we are all engaged in the war of spreading awareness in the nation in face of the misleading campaigns of ignorance and falsehood practiced by more than one side. Yesterday on one of the Arab channels, I was listening to one of the "insulters". It goes without saying that they are insulters. Yet they are liars too. He was saying that Hezbollah shelled the Egyptian Embassy in Beirut. Did anyone shell the Egyptian Embassy? Frankly, it would've been natural had we held the first demonstration two days ago in front of the Egyptian Embassy in Beirut. Yet we purposely avoided going there because we can understand the special conditions and don't want to confront anyone. We are staging a peaceful action. We are making a peaceful demand calling for a change in the Egyptian stance. But we are not concerned with attacking anyone. We are engaged in the awareness battle along the Arab and Islamic world in face of accusations and falsehood, as was the case with us during July War.

Yesterday, Arab official papers, unfortunately were accusing Hamas and the resistance factions in Gaza as selling their people for the interests of some regional regimes –namely Syria. What interest does Syria have in the killing of people in Gaza? On the contrary, Syria, which has its viewpoint, took the initiative to stop the indirect negotiations with Israel via Turkey. They were also accusing Hamas of defending Iran. This was said in Lebanon for 33 days; that we were defending Syria or the Iranian nuclear program. These are absurdities. These are loathsome, malicious and detestable accusations whoever and wherever they were issued from. Hamas, Jihad and the other Palestinian factions in Gaza are defending the people in Gaza. When the appeasement came to an end, they returned to their natural program because the appeasement means dying of hunger and humiliation. So it's not an appeasement. So they are not only holding the victim responsible but also accusing the victim in his national and religious affiliation. They're accusing him of being unfaithful to his people. Indeed those resistance fighters in all resistance areas are but the noblest among people. They are the most dignified, generous and pure among people. Whoever abandons them is an accomplice in the crime, in the killing and in the treachery. We are calling for opening Rafah cross point. Now if we watched attentively to all the slogans and listened to all the speeches and outcries all over the Arab and Islamic worlds, we find an Arab and Islamic consensus in the nation calling on the Egyptian government to open Rafah cross point. Gaza is steadfast, courageous and able to make victory. It needs us to backs its steadfastness and the first condition for such steadfastness is opening a door for it.

Brothers and sisters:

Today we stand before what's taking place in Gaza. As we used to say in Lebanon, the decisive element is the battlefield. True there are great numbers of martyrs and wounded, but so far and God willing, the political and military leadership is steadfast. We are witnessing in Gaza fighters from all resistance factions in the battlefield, public steadfastness, a continuing public backing to the resistance and its choice. The continuing rocket launching in scores since the first day of the aggression on which is targeting new settlements is an evidence of the strength in the battlefield in Gaza. We can understand that very well pursuant to our experience in July War. I've said that what's taking place in Gaza is very similar to July War. The Zionist air force will fail to kill the will of the resistance fighters who are launching rockets. The inhabitants of the settlements 20 and 40 kilometers away from Gaza will remain outside their settlements or in shelters. The battle now is that of time. Our brethren fighters in Gaza understand that very well. The Israelis can't stand for a long time. Questions will be posed about the futility of what they've done. They've said that one of the conclusions drawn from Lebanon's second war is that air force only is not able to put a decisive end to the battle. Yes in Lebanon hundreds of warplanes were shelling us daily. The strategic air force stock was exhausted during the first days. The Israelis say that the sum of shells they rocked Lebanon with from air surpasses the sum of rockets they shelled during all the Arab-Israeli wars. Still the air force failed to decisively end the battle. Many martyrs fell among us and many wounded. Tens of hundreds of houses were demolished. Still arms did not fall neither the will nor the rocket. In Gaza, as long as the will of the resistance is launching rockets, the Israelis will find out that they flopped in achieving their goals despite the great sacrifices made by the Palestinians. The Israelis might find a land operation inevitable. Today the Israelis are bullying as they are waging a psychological war against the Palestinian through allowing channels to broadcast life images of tanks movements – as they did in Lebanon. But when the land action takes place, they'll be confronted with the courage and will of the fighters. Then the Israelis will start losing. The Israeli voice will be heard. Today the battlefield is what gives the final word. We are calling on Egypt, the Arab world and the whole world: if you can't stop the aggression, let's make available the conditions of steadfastness, firmness and continuity for confrontation and resistance in Gaza and the fate of this resistance in Gaza will not be less than a dignified victory.

Brothers and sisters:

Our rally today is not the last for Gaza. I call on you and on all the Arab and Islamic peoples to continue taking action on every level. We must think in every domain of ways to support our brethrens in Gaza. I hope that you brothers and sisters who are rallying here and who have answered the called of Abi Abdullah Al Hussein and the call of the oppressed and noble fighters to be ever ready to answer such calls, stances or decisions. With you we renew the vow and pledge of allegiance to back the resistance and every resistance fighter. We answer Al Hussein who made his cry hundreds of years ago: we will always answer your call: "At your service we are, O Hussein". Glory and dignity to the great pure martyrs in Gaza and to all the resistance fighters. Victory to the resistance fighters and pride and honor to our Arab and Islamic nation. Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessing.