16 May 2000

In the name of Allah the most Gracious the most Merciful

The PA commits another crime by arresting
The Mujahid commander Mohammed Daif
We hold it responsible for any harm done to him or any threat to his life

Our detainees in occupation jails are engaged in the battle of empty stomachs against the occupation authority, our people are revolting in various cities, villages and refugee camps in solidarity with our heroic detainees and engaging the enemy troops in bloody confrontations, the Zionist enemy’s government is degrading the Palestinian Authority imposing on it humiliating concessions over Al-Quds (Jerusalem), right of return and settlements in the so-called final status talks.

At such a critical stage, the PA committed a sinful crime by arresting the Mujahid hero Mohammed Daif as a sacrifice for the Zionist enemy’s government and as a price for the latter’s approval to surrender part of the blessed land of Palestine in Abu Dees and Alezariye to the PA. The arrest also came to pave the way for the government of the enemy to announce its approval of the establishment of an illusionary (Palestinian) state that is based on scattered areas of land, with no army or sovereignty on land, air or wealth. The PA is thus performing its role, drawn by the occupation, to strike the resistance, humiliate our people, accept the occupation as a de facto situation and submit to its conditions and dictates.

This crime is yet another chain in a series of similar crimes against heroic Mujahideen of our people especially the Qassam Brigades, some of which included sharing in assassinating the two heroes Eng. Yehya Ayyash and Kamal Keheil and assassinating their brothers heroes Eng. Mohaiuddin Sharif, Adel and Emad Awadallah in addition to scores others of our people’s heroes and Mujahideen.

The timing and the attempt to cover up for the crime in addition to attempting to deny it in the media aim at deceiving our people and avoiding their expected angry reaction against that Authority, a matter that would expose its symbols and security officials.

We, in the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, condemn that hideous crime, which reveals treachery, cowardice and villainy. We warn that Authority of insisting on its crime or of any harm done to our brother the hero or handing him over to the occupation authority and we demand his immediate release along with all other detainees in its jails.

Let the Authority know that by insisting on that crime, it would be fighting its own people and their right of defending their lands and resisting the Zionist occupiers. It would be also turning its back on the Jihad and sacrifices of our people, Ummah, Islam and Arabism.

Let the Authority, along with the occupation; know that our Jihad and resistance against occupation will continue until liberation regardless of obstacles, campaigns or treachery. We are confident that victory is for the believers the Mujahideen and that shame is the fate of all quislings. We are confident that Allah supports us and also our people and all those oppressors will one day realize what a deep pit they had fallen in. And Allah’s ordained words will no doubt be prevalent, But most people do not know.

And it is a Jihad until victory or martyrdom

The Islamic Resistance Movement
(Hamas – Palestine)
Tuesday 12 Safar 1421H
16 May 2000