In the name of God, the Mercy-giving, the Merciful

Sparing the Palestinian blood is a responsibility of the Palestinian Authority

A communiqué issued by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas)

Due to the unfortunate incident that occurred in Rafah on Monday, 1 February, during which Captain Rifaat Mohammad Judah and the infant Fadwa Jarwaneh were killed, we in the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), based on our keenness to secure national unity and to suppress the sedition that Israel has always sought and which was made clear in the Israeli media following that unfortunate incident, and because of certain accusations, would like to stress the following:

First: Hamas reiterates its consistent policy that prohibits internal fighting and its continuous strategy of sparing and protecting Palestinian blood.

Second: Our brothers¾ Usama Taha, Mohammed Abu Shamala and Raed Al Attar¾ whose names were mentioned in connection with this incident by the local press, have never been wanted by the PA’s security service since their employment in a PA security apparatus headed by Colonel Sami Abu Samhadaneh. Therefore, we wonder why they were being chased? And why their problem, if any, has not been solved by the security service in which they have been working? We condemn the policy of chasing people that is practised by the PA security, such as shooting live gunfire in the streets, raiding houses by armed men and damaging their contents, and generally terrifying the people. Such policies open the door widely for agents of Israel’s special forces to implement their schemes against our People.

Third: Our People’s blood is deposited in trust and is a responsibility of the PA’s security services that should protect and guard them. The protection of the blood of Captain Rifaat Judah and the children Fadwa Jarwaneh and Mohammed Yaziji was the responsibility of the authority which should protect the citizens and enhance the security and stability among the people.

Fourth: The hasty attempts to link Hamas to this incident are rejected and baseless. They do not serve the interests and the unity of our People on which Hamas stresses in all its positions, especially during this critical stage being experienced by our People and Cause. Therefore, Hamas reiterates its rejection of these repeated attempts to deform its bright image and to destroy its Jihad and established position, which is based on the fact that our People’s main conflict is with the Zionist Enemy.

Fifth: We in Hamas regrettably condemn the disgusting phrases mentioned in Fatah Movement’s statement that was distributed in Rafah and which talk of a “misled and misleading category of people” with the aim of deforming the image of the Islamists, who proved their honesty and loyalty to their Nation and Homeland. Such a statement increases the tension instead of defusing it and instead of protecting the security and safety of our society.

Sixth: Hamas reiterates the necessity of making the Israelis and their conspirators miss the opportunity of waging an internal war by controlling ourselves and by fighting rumours that aim to destabilize the Palestinian arena. We should close the door in the face of those who want to spread sedition among our People. Hamas also reiterates its continued resistance of the Zionist occupation and usurpation. It also strongly rejects the attempts to transfer the conflict into our Palestinian arena.

Finally, we call upon our People to be cautious and to cling firmly by means of God’s rope.