Africa calls for Palestine’s liberation on Al-Quds Day

[bsruzm]

Al-Quds Day, initiated in 1979 and held on the last Friday of Ramadan, voices calls for Palestine's liberation

"Voices reverberated across Africa in solidarity for Palestine on the annual International Al-Quds Day. With one-third of the world's Muslim population in Africa, hundreds of thousands on the continent added their voices to global efforts towards Palestine's liberation.

Al-Quds Day, initiated in 1979 and held on the last Friday of every Ramadan, inspires a humanitarian unity against Israel's oppression of Palestine, according to Achmad Cassiem, a former South African political prisoner.

“Africa does not localize an important demonstration of such nature, but we share in it, as the pain is one all of Africa can identify with,” he told Anadolu Agency.

Nigeria marches amid heavy security

Thousands partook in long processions across major northern Nigerian cities as the country's Shia led Al-Quds Day in support of Palestinian freedom, shadowed by riot police deployed to prevent violence.

Despite the heavy security presence, fears of previous years' tragedies did not slow the pace of the marchers. It was only two years ago that soldiers attacked the Al-Quds rally, resulting in 32 civilian deaths.

“We thank Almighty Allah that there was no incident of violence or faceoff with anybody. Hundreds of thousands took part in the processions in Sokoto, Katsina, Jos and of course in Zaria,” Ibrahim Musa, spokesman for the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, or the Shia, told Anadolu Agency shortly after the rally.

Musa said the event was a huge success even though local Shia leader Ibrahim El-Zakzaky has been in detention since last December, after an incident in which dozens of Shia members were allegedly killed by soldiers.

Senior IMN member Haruna El-Binawy said that the rally highlighted the suffering of Palestinians and the need for the world to insist on justice for all the oppressed.

“The rallies also call for the release of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and all those held captive by the Nigerian regime. The third and final message of the rallies is that the IMN showed solidarity with all the oppressed in the world, especially the Nigerian oppressed who have been plunged into more misery and abject poverty due the self-centered and anti-poor economic policies of the Buhari administration,” said El-Binawy.

Ghana pushes for Palestine's victory

Palestinian and Iranian ambassadors attended Ghana's stern call for Palestine's freedom to be achieved within a year. Organizers and speakers at the annual event conveyed solidarity messages in the capital city of Accra.

"We must vow here that when we return next year, we will be celebrating victory," said Edmund Delle, national chairman of the Convention People's Party. "If one country is not free, then we're all not free. I declare a total fight for the liberation of Palestine.”

Attending the event were over 100 different representatives from political parties, Islamic sects, the Rastafarian Council, as well as several learners, including the Students Unions president.

The Palestinian ambassador to Ghana, Abdalfatah Al Sattari, decried how the Israeli state "aggressively oppressed the region through its militancy." For Al Sattari, Israel will be defeated in Palestine similar to what happened in the Sinai region in the 1970s.

Addressing the symposium, Iran's Ambassador to Ghana Mohammad prayed that one day Palestinians will celebrate republican status like Ghana does on July 1.

Kwesi Pratt Jnr, a member of the Socialists Forum of Ghana, expressed disappointment that Ghanaians treated former Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman like a VIP during his last visit to the country.

The Zionist movement, he said, is very much present in Ghana's schools and churches, adding that they have "managed to distort the Palestinian struggle."

South Africa's long walk to Palestine's freedom continues

The crowd cheered as the Israeli flag flickered in flames in front of Cape Town's parliament, while Johannesburg's streets were covered in pickets and slogan chants calling for Palestine's liberation.

“Across racial and religious divides we will never forget the cause for freedom and never support anyone who considers Israel a friend,” Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions representative Braam Hanekom told Cape Town's gathered masses.

Marching from the historic oppressed area of District 6 to Cape Town's parliament, the Islamic Unity Convention delivered a memorandum to South Africa's international relations officer Seraki Matsebe demanding that the government strengthen its opposition to Israel, enhance its support for Palestine, and grant educational and employment opportunities to Palestine refugees in the country.

Reverend Jane Major called for women to be strong in the cause as a flotilla to Gaza will be assembled by female activists across the globe.

“They can try to kill us, but the biggest mosque and church is in our hearts,” she told the crowd.

The country holds deep connections with Palestine as the late Nelson Mandela was well known for his stance, having famously said, “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

Kenyans rally

Rallies mobilized by Muslims marked International Al-Quds Day in Kenya's major towns of Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Kisumu.

In the capital Nairobi, over 100 Muslims gathered at Parkroad Mosque to observe the annual event, with a recitation of the Holy Quran followed by speeches from top Muslim clerics and officials.

Sheikh Mohmoud Salim, one of the speakers from the congregations of imams of Nairobi, spoke on the importance of unity within the Muslim community.

The event was organized by the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in conjunction with the Mahdi Muslim Community." YeniŞafak

 

[Beny Karachun]

Al-Quds Day, initiated in 1979 and held on the last Friday of Ramadan, voices calls for Palestine's liberation

"Voices reverberated across Africa in solidarity for Palestine on the annual International Al-Quds Day. With one-third of the world's Muslim population in Africa, hundreds of thousands on the continent added their voices to global efforts towards Palestine's liberation.

Al-Quds Day, initiated in 1979 and held on the last Friday of every Ramadan, inspires a humanitarian unity against Israel's oppression of Palestine, according to Achmad Cassiem, a former South African political prisoner.

“Africa does not localize an important demonstration of such nature, but we share in it, as the pain is one all of Africa can identify with,” he told Anadolu Agency.

Nigeria marches amid heavy security

Thousands partook in long processions across major northern Nigerian cities as the country's Shia led Al-Quds Day in support of Palestinian freedom, shadowed by riot police deployed to prevent violence.

Despite the heavy security presence, fears of previous years' tragedies did not slow the pace of the marchers. It was only two years ago that soldiers attacked the Al-Quds rally, resulting in 32 civilian deaths.

“We thank Almighty Allah that there was no incident of violence or faceoff with anybody. Hundreds of thousands took part in the processions in Sokoto, Katsina, Jos and of course in Zaria,” Ibrahim Musa, spokesman for the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, or the Shia, told Anadolu Agency shortly after the rally.

Musa said the event was a huge success even though local Shia leader Ibrahim El-Zakzaky has been in detention since last December, after an incident in which dozens of Shia members were allegedly killed by soldiers.

Senior IMN member Haruna El-Binawy said that the rally highlighted the suffering of Palestinians and the need for the world to insist on justice for all the oppressed.

“The rallies also call for the release of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and all those held captive by the Nigerian regime. The third and final message of the rallies is that the IMN showed solidarity with all the oppressed in the world, especially the Nigerian oppressed who have been plunged into more misery and abject poverty due the self-centered and anti-poor economic policies of the Buhari administration,” said El-Binawy.

Ghana pushes for Palestine's victory

Palestinian and Iranian ambassadors attended Ghana's stern call for Palestine's freedom to be achieved within a year. Organizers and speakers at the annual event conveyed solidarity messages in the capital city of Accra.

"We must vow here that when we return next year, we will be celebrating victory," said Edmund Delle, national chairman of the Convention People's Party. "If one country is not free, then we're all not free. I declare a total fight for the liberation of Palestine.”

Attending the event were over 100 different representatives from political parties, Islamic sects, the Rastafarian Council, as well as several learners, including the Students Unions president.

The Palestinian ambassador to Ghana, Abdalfatah Al Sattari, decried how the Israeli state "aggressively oppressed the region through its militancy." For Al Sattari, Israel will be defeated in Palestine similar to what happened in the Sinai region in the 1970s.

Addressing the symposium, Iran's Ambassador to Ghana Mohammad prayed that one day Palestinians will celebrate republican status like Ghana does on July 1.

Kwesi Pratt Jnr, a member of the Socialists Forum of Ghana, expressed disappointment that Ghanaians treated former Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman like a VIP during his last visit to the country.

The Zionist movement, he said, is very much present in Ghana's schools and churches, adding that they have "managed to distort the Palestinian struggle."

South Africa's long walk to Palestine's freedom continues

The crowd cheered as the Israeli flag flickered in flames in front of Cape Town's parliament, while Johannesburg's streets were covered in pickets and slogan chants calling for Palestine's liberation.

“Across racial and religious divides we will never forget the cause for freedom and never support anyone who considers Israel a friend,” Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions representative Braam Hanekom told Cape Town's gathered masses.

Marching from the historic oppressed area of District 6 to Cape Town's parliament, the Islamic Unity Convention delivered a memorandum to South Africa's international relations officer Seraki Matsebe demanding that the government strengthen its opposition to Israel, enhance its support for Palestine, and grant educational and employment opportunities to Palestine refugees in the country.

Reverend Jane Major called for women to be strong in the cause as a flotilla to Gaza will be assembled by female activists across the globe.

“They can try to kill us, but the biggest mosque and church is in our hearts,” she told the crowd.

The country holds deep connections with Palestine as the late Nelson Mandela was well known for his stance, having famously said, “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

Kenyans rally

Rallies mobilized by Muslims marked International Al-Quds Day in Kenya's major towns of Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Kisumu.

In the capital Nairobi, over 100 Muslims gathered at Parkroad Mosque to observe the annual event, with a recitation of the Holy Quran followed by speeches from top Muslim clerics and officials.

Sheikh Mohmoud Salim, one of the speakers from the congregations of imams of Nairobi, spoke on the importance of unity within the Muslim community.

The event was organized by the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in conjunction with the Mahdi Muslim Community." YeniŞafak

Palestine is not a nation or people, just Jordanians, Egyptians and such.
Only idiots support Palestine, period.

 

[bsruzm]

Palestine is not a nation or people, just Jordanians, Egyptians and such.
Only idiots support Palestine, period.

 

[Beny Karachun]

Yes, want to question that? do it.

 

[denel]

Al-Quds Day, initiated in 1979 and held on the last Friday of Ramadan, voices calls for Palestine's liberation

"Voices reverberated across Africa in solidarity for Palestine on the annual International Al-Quds Day. With one-third of the world's Muslim population in Africa, hundreds of thousands on the continent added their voices to global efforts towards Palestine's liberation.

Al-Quds Day, initiated in 1979 and held on the last Friday of every Ramadan, inspires a humanitarian unity against Israel's oppression of Palestine, according to Achmad Cassiem, a former South African political prisoner.

“Africa does not localize an important demonstration of such nature, but we share in it, as the pain is one all of Africa can identify with,” he told Anadolu Agency.

Nigeria marches amid heavy security

Thousands partook in long processions across major northern Nigerian cities as the country's Shia led Al-Quds Day in support of Palestinian freedom, shadowed by riot police deployed to prevent violence.

Despite the heavy security presence, fears of previous years' tragedies did not slow the pace of the marchers. It was only two years ago that soldiers attacked the Al-Quds rally, resulting in 32 civilian deaths.

“We thank Almighty Allah that there was no incident of violence or faceoff with anybody. Hundreds of thousands took part in the processions in Sokoto, Katsina, Jos and of course in Zaria,” Ibrahim Musa, spokesman for the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, or the Shia, told Anadolu Agency shortly after the rally.

Musa said the event was a huge success even though local Shia leader Ibrahim El-Zakzaky has been in detention since last December, after an incident in which dozens of Shia members were allegedly killed by soldiers.

Senior IMN member Haruna El-Binawy said that the rally highlighted the suffering of Palestinians and the need for the world to insist on justice for all the oppressed.

“The rallies also call for the release of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and all those held captive by the Nigerian regime. The third and final message of the rallies is that the IMN showed solidarity with all the oppressed in the world, especially the Nigerian oppressed who have been plunged into more misery and abject poverty due the self-centered and anti-poor economic policies of the Buhari administration,” said El-Binawy.

Ghana pushes for Palestine's victory

Palestinian and Iranian ambassadors attended Ghana's stern call for Palestine's freedom to be achieved within a year. Organizers and speakers at the annual event conveyed solidarity messages in the capital city of Accra.

"We must vow here that when we return next year, we will be celebrating victory," said Edmund Delle, national chairman of the Convention People's Party. "If one country is not free, then we're all not free. I declare a total fight for the liberation of Palestine.”

Attending the event were over 100 different representatives from political parties, Islamic sects, the Rastafarian Council, as well as several learners, including the Students Unions president.

The Palestinian ambassador to Ghana, Abdalfatah Al Sattari, decried how the Israeli state "aggressively oppressed the region through its militancy." For Al Sattari, Israel will be defeated in Palestine similar to what happened in the Sinai region in the 1970s.

Addressing the symposium, Iran's Ambassador to Ghana Mohammad prayed that one day Palestinians will celebrate republican status like Ghana does on July 1.

Kwesi Pratt Jnr, a member of the Socialists Forum of Ghana, expressed disappointment that Ghanaians treated former Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman like a VIP during his last visit to the country.

The Zionist movement, he said, is very much present in Ghana's schools and churches, adding that they have "managed to distort the Palestinian struggle."

South Africa's long walk to Palestine's freedom continues

The crowd cheered as the Israeli flag flickered in flames in front of Cape Town's parliament, while Johannesburg's streets were covered in pickets and slogan chants calling for Palestine's liberation.

“Across racial and religious divides we will never forget the cause for freedom and never support anyone who considers Israel a friend,” Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions representative Braam Hanekom told Cape Town's gathered masses.

Marching from the historic oppressed area of District 6 to Cape Town's parliament, the Islamic Unity Convention delivered a memorandum to South Africa's international relations officer Seraki Matsebe demanding that the government strengthen its opposition to Israel, enhance its support for Palestine, and grant educational and employment opportunities to Palestine refugees in the country.

Reverend Jane Major called for women to be strong in the cause as a flotilla to Gaza will be assembled by female activists across the globe.

“They can try to kill us, but the biggest mosque and church is in our hearts,” she told the crowd.

The country holds deep connections with Palestine as the late Nelson Mandela was well known for his stance, having famously said, “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

Kenyans rally

Rallies mobilized by Muslims marked International Al-Quds Day in Kenya's major towns of Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Kisumu.

In the capital Nairobi, over 100 Muslims gathered at Parkroad Mosque to observe the annual event, with a recitation of the Holy Quran followed by speeches from top Muslim clerics and officials.

Sheikh Mohmoud Salim, one of the speakers from the congregations of imams of Nairobi, spoke on the importance of unity within the Muslim community.

The event was organized by the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in conjunction with the Mahdi Muslim Community." YeniŞafak

Good.... at least we remember.

 

[terry5]

Palestine is not a nation or people, just Jordanians, Egyptians and such.
Only idiots support Palestine, period.

 

[Beny Karachun]

So Nelson Mandela said that, was Nelson Mandela a genius?
Did Nelson Mandela even ever visit this region?

 

[terry5]

So Nelson Mandela said that, was Nelson Mandela a genius?
Did Nelson Mandela even ever visit this region?

 

[denel]

So Nelson Mandela said that, was Nelson Mandela a genius?
Did Nelson Mandela even ever visit this region?

He did say those phrases. Kudos to our leader, he never mixed up words and said it stands.
We are very proud our fellow jews in South Africa who stand up for principle e.g. Judge Goldstone.

 

[HAIDER]

Al-Quds Day, initiated in 1979 and held on the last Friday of Ramadan, voices calls for Palestine's liberation

"Voices reverberated across Africa in solidarity for Palestine on the annual International Al-Quds Day. With one-third of the world's Muslim population in Africa, hundreds of thousands on the continent added their voices to global efforts towards Palestine's liberation.

Al-Quds Day, initiated in 1979 and held on the last Friday of every Ramadan, inspires a humanitarian unity against Israel's oppression of Palestine, according to Achmad Cassiem, a former South African political prisoner.

“Africa does not localize an important demonstration of such nature, but we share in it, as the pain is one all of Africa can identify with,” he told Anadolu Agency.

Nigeria marches amid heavy security

Thousands partook in long processions across major northern Nigerian cities as the country's Shia led Al-Quds Day in support of Palestinian freedom, shadowed by riot police deployed to prevent violence.

Despite the heavy security presence, fears of previous years' tragedies did not slow the pace of the marchers. It was only two years ago that soldiers attacked the Al-Quds rally, resulting in 32 civilian deaths.

“We thank Almighty Allah that there was no incident of violence or faceoff with anybody. Hundreds of thousands took part in the processions in Sokoto, Katsina, Jos and of course in Zaria,” Ibrahim Musa, spokesman for the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, or the Shia, told Anadolu Agency shortly after the rally.

Musa said the event was a huge success even though local Shia leader Ibrahim El-Zakzaky has been in detention since last December, after an incident in which dozens of Shia members were allegedly killed by soldiers.

Senior IMN member Haruna El-Binawy said that the rally highlighted the suffering of Palestinians and the need for the world to insist on justice for all the oppressed.

“The rallies also call for the release of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and all those held captive by the Nigerian regime. The third and final message of the rallies is that the IMN showed solidarity with all the oppressed in the world, especially the Nigerian oppressed who have been plunged into more misery and abject poverty due the self-centered and anti-poor economic policies of the Buhari administration,” said El-Binawy.

Ghana pushes for Palestine's victory

Palestinian and Iranian ambassadors attended Ghana's stern call for Palestine's freedom to be achieved within a year. Organizers and speakers at the annual event conveyed solidarity messages in the capital city of Accra.

"We must vow here that when we return next year, we will be celebrating victory," said Edmund Delle, national chairman of the Convention People's Party. "If one country is not free, then we're all not free. I declare a total fight for the liberation of Palestine.”

Attending the event were over 100 different representatives from political parties, Islamic sects, the Rastafarian Council, as well as several learners, including the Students Unions president.

The Palestinian ambassador to Ghana, Abdalfatah Al Sattari, decried how the Israeli state "aggressively oppressed the region through its militancy." For Al Sattari, Israel will be defeated in Palestine similar to what happened in the Sinai region in the 1970s.

Addressing the symposium, Iran's Ambassador to Ghana Mohammad prayed that one day Palestinians will celebrate republican status like Ghana does on July 1.

Kwesi Pratt Jnr, a member of the Socialists Forum of Ghana, expressed disappointment that Ghanaians treated former Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman like a VIP during his last visit to the country.

The Zionist movement, he said, is very much present in Ghana's schools and churches, adding that they have "managed to distort the Palestinian struggle."

South Africa's long walk to Palestine's freedom continues

The crowd cheered as the Israeli flag flickered in flames in front of Cape Town's parliament, while Johannesburg's streets were covered in pickets and slogan chants calling for Palestine's liberation.

“Across racial and religious divides we will never forget the cause for freedom and never support anyone who considers Israel a friend,” Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions representative Braam Hanekom told Cape Town's gathered masses.

Marching from the historic oppressed area of District 6 to Cape Town's parliament, the Islamic Unity Convention delivered a memorandum to South Africa's international relations officer Seraki Matsebe demanding that the government strengthen its opposition to Israel, enhance its support for Palestine, and grant educational and employment opportunities to Palestine refugees in the country.

Reverend Jane Major called for women to be strong in the cause as a flotilla to Gaza will be assembled by female activists across the globe.

“They can try to kill us, but the biggest mosque and church is in our hearts,” she told the crowd.

The country holds deep connections with Palestine as the late Nelson Mandela was well known for his stance, having famously said, “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

Kenyans rally

Rallies mobilized by Muslims marked International Al-Quds Day in Kenya's major towns of Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Kisumu.

In the capital Nairobi, over 100 Muslims gathered at Parkroad Mosque to observe the annual event, with a recitation of the Holy Quran followed by speeches from top Muslim clerics and officials.

Sheikh Mohmoud Salim, one of the speakers from the congregations of imams of Nairobi, spoke on the importance of unity within the Muslim community.

The event was organized by the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in conjunction with the Mahdi Muslim Community." YeniŞafak

Yup Palastine is issue, now let's have some tea and cake...

 

[SOHEIL]

Good one !

Yup Palastine is issue, now let's have some tea and cake...

I just want to know what will happen if we stop supporting Palestinians !

Muslim ummah gonna watch the mass murdering of Palestinians to the last one !

Infact Palestinians are ungrateful people & deserve that !

I won't get surprised if they burn Iranian flag to make their sunni brothers happy !

But when shit happens they turn back to iran for help !

We faced so many pressures & sanctions for fajr-5 rockets but After couple of months they completely denied Iranian help because of $$$ from qatar !

No surprise Lebanese Hezbollah pushed israeli forces back from its territories but Palestinians still sticking to their sectarian shit !

They even transferred rocket knowledge to al-nusra & ISIS to help them fight against iran!

Good ... Really good!

 

[HAIDER]

Good one !



I just want to know what will happen if we stop supporting Palestinians !

Muslim ummah gonna watch the mass murdering of Palestinians to the last one !

Infact Palestinians are ungrateful people & deserve that !

I won't get surprised if they burn Iranian flag to make their sunni brothers happy !

But when shit happens they turn back to iran for help !

We faced so many pressures & sanctions for fajr-5 rockets but After couple of months they completely denied Iranian help because of $$$ from qatar !

No surprise Lebanese Hezbollah pushed israeli forces back from its territories but Palestinians still sticking to their sectarian shit !

They even transferred rocket knowledge to al-nusra & ISIS to help them fight against iran!

Good ... Really good!

Helping ungrateful ?

 

[SOHEIL]

Helping ungrateful ?

For the sake of Palestinian ordinary people we have to help organizations like hamas !

How did Hamas's military expertise end up with Syria's rebels?

Breakaway fighters from Hamas's armed wing are using their expertise to assist Syrian rebels with tunnel building and rocket making

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has long accused the Palestinian movement Hamas of arming and training Syrian rebels fighting against his rule following the March 2011 uprising, inspired by the Arab Spring.

In a recent interview with the Swedish newspaper Expressen, Assad went as far as to charge that Hamas "supports al-Nusra Front", the al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria, echoing - ironically - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who likened the Palestinian movement to the Islamic State (IS).

For its part, the Palestinian movement has repeatedly denied any military involvement in the Syrian conflict, despite siding politically with the popular uprising against Assad, and hailing "the heroic people of Syria who are striving for freedom, democracy and reform".

Hamas had maintained that its leaders left Damascus to avoid being drawn into the Syrian conflict, following failed attempts by the Syrian government to portray the Palestinian movement as being on Assad's side.

Hamas also recently denied any links to Aknaf Bait al-Maqdis, a Palestinian armed group battling against pro-Assad forces - as well as against IS militants - in the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus.

However, last week Syrian rebels from Ahrar al-Sham group said they had sought and received advice from Palestinians in Gaza on how to maintain tunnels used to fight pro-government forces in the Idlib countryside.

'Our brothers in Gaza'
Abu Musaab, a leader in Ahrar al-Sham, told the pro-uprising satellite television station Orient News that the Syrian militant group received tutorial videos from Gazans showing them how to repair collapsing tunnels.

"The ground here became damp and began to fall on us…and some of our youth were trapped inside. So we spoke to those with expertise, our brothers in Gaza, may God reward their good deeds," Abu Musaab was quoted as saying.

"We consulted them regarding the problem and they advised us to bring in wood (plates), sending us video segment showing us how they do it and we replicated that," Abu Musaab added.

His announcement was reported in a number of Arabic websites, including both pro and anti-Assad outlets, but with the addition that the Palestinians in question were members of Hamas, even though the Syrian rebel did not specifically name them.

It is not the first time that such suggestions were made. In April 2013, the London Times newspaper, citing unnamed Western diplomatic sources in contact with the Syrian government and opposition, claimed that the armed wing of Hamas, Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, were training rebel units belonging to Free Syrian Army.

The Times report, whose content was denied by Hamas, also alleged that the Palestinian movement had been aiding the Syrian opposition with tunnel digging, which are used to launch attacks on government forces.

And in June 2013, the pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper reported that "sources close to Hezbollah and the Syrian regime claim that Hamas had a role to play in the battles of Qusayr, [where tunnels] … had been dug using small Iranian devices that Hezbollah had transferred to Hamas."

"Some of the explosives, they added, were found to contain electronic chips that Hamas had acquired from Iran and Hezbollah," the Lebanese paper said.

Ex-Qassam members
However, testimonies from inside Syria point to the involvement of former members of Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, who are not only no longer working with Hamas but also have become critical of the Palestinian movement over its participation in politics and indirect ceasefire agreements with Israel.

"There are Palestinians from Gaza, who have split from Hamas or from smaller militant groups [but not from Islamic Jihad] and are fighting in Syria. They have special expertise in tunnel digging or rocket making," Ibrahim Khader, a Palestinian journalist covering the conflict in Syria, told MEE.

"These Palestinians are not in Gaza, but from Gaza. I know them in person and I have spoken with them; they are Palestinians who have split from the resistance movement (in Gaza) to go to Syria," added Khader, who is a frequent freelance contributor to MEE.

Khader said the former Qassam members, who do not wish to be identified, had been "giving their expertise to what they perceive as Islamic factions in Syria, and not to Ahrar al-Sham alone".

"They (former Qassam members) have helped the Syrian rebels with tunnel digging as the Syrians' experience with the collapsing tunnels is limited," said Khader, adding that they had also "taught the Syrians how to develop Grad-like long-distance rockets."

According to Khader's estimate, the total number of Palestinians who have joined the Syrian rebels from Gaza does not exceed 200, but, he adds, most of them are highly experienced in military skills, including making explosives.

They have been trained by Qassam members, some of whom could have been coached militarily by Iran or Hezbollah, which would explain why the Lebanese movement might have suspected the participation of Hamas in the fighting alongside the Syrian rebels.

"Today Hamas is in a tough spot. It made moves towards reviving ties with Iran and Hezbollah but they (Tehran and the Lebanese movement) have responded with coolness, demanding a high political price," said Khader.

"Hamas is asked to publicly back Assad," said Khader, adding that such a U-turn could not be contemplated by the Palestinian movement, which wants its "stances to be based on principles, not opportunism".

"Besides," Khader said, "the vast majority of people in Gaza are with the Syrian uprising, save a minority of leftists and some others who switch sides to what benefits them at any given moment."

'Both are fighting against tyranny'
MEE has sought to obtain clarifications from the Syrian rebels in Idlib countryside with regards to the affiliation of the Palestinians who have helped with the tunnels, but has so far been unsuccessful in reaching them.

However, Emad Karkas, a Syrian journalist in Idlib, told MEE that the general view amongst critics of Assad is that the Palestinian cause and the Syrian one overlap, "as both are fighting against tyranny".

Assad had been using the suffering of the Palestinian people for political gains, to "shield him from criticism" with regards to his inaction towards Israel as it continues to occupy the Golan Heights for over 40 years, while also utilising their cause to serve as distraction regarding "the persecution of the people," said Karkas.

"After the (March 2011) revolution of dignity, the regime has not shied away from oppressing the Palestinians (in Syria) … shelling them, besieging them and starving them," Karkas added.

The view from the Assad camp is radically different. To them, they are still supporting "the resistance" against Israel, despite "the betrayal of Hamas". They maintain that even as recent as last summer, Syrian weapons were used by Hamas to counter Israel's Operation Protective Edge, a claim denied by the Palestinian movement.

 

[bsruzm]

Good one !



I just want to know what will happen if we stop supporting Palestinians !

Muslim ummah gonna watch the mass murdering of Palestinians to the last one !

Infact Palestinians are ungrateful people & deserve that !

I won't get surprised if they burn Iranian flag to make their sunni brothers happy !

But when shit happens they turn back to iran for help !

We faced so many pressures & sanctions for fajr-5 rockets but After couple of months they completely denied Iranian help because of $$$ from qatar !

No surprise Lebanese Hezbollah pushed israeli forces back from its territories but Palestinians still sticking to their sectarian shit !

They even transferred rocket knowledge to al-nusra & ISIS to help them fight against iran!

Good ... Really good!

For the sake of Palestinian ordinary people we have to help organizations like hamas !

How did Hamas's military expertise end up with Syria's rebels?

Breakaway fighters from Hamas's armed wing are using their expertise to assist Syrian rebels with tunnel building and rocket making

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has long accused the Palestinian movement Hamas of arming and training Syrian rebels fighting against his rule following the March 2011 uprising, inspired by the Arab Spring.

In a recent interview with the Swedish newspaper Expressen, Assad went as far as to charge that Hamas "supports al-Nusra Front", the al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria, echoing - ironically - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who likened the Palestinian movement to the Islamic State (IS).

For its part, the Palestinian movement has repeatedly denied any military involvement in the Syrian conflict, despite siding politically with the popular uprising against Assad, and hailing "the heroic people of Syria who are striving for freedom, democracy and reform".

Hamas had maintained that its leaders left Damascus to avoid being drawn into the Syrian conflict, following failed attempts by the Syrian government to portray the Palestinian movement as being on Assad's side.

Hamas also recently denied any links to Aknaf Bait al-Maqdis, a Palestinian armed group battling against pro-Assad forces - as well as against IS militants - in the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus.

However, last week Syrian rebels from Ahrar al-Sham group said they had sought and received advice from Palestinians in Gaza on how to maintain tunnels used to fight pro-government forces in the Idlib countryside.

'Our brothers in Gaza'
Abu Musaab, a leader in Ahrar al-Sham, told the pro-uprising satellite television station Orient News that the Syrian militant group received tutorial videos from Gazans showing them how to repair collapsing tunnels.

"The ground here became damp and began to fall on us…and some of our youth were trapped inside. So we spoke to those with expertise, our brothers in Gaza, may God reward their good deeds," Abu Musaab was quoted as saying.

"We consulted them regarding the problem and they advised us to bring in wood (plates), sending us video segment showing us how they do it and we replicated that," Abu Musaab added.

His announcement was reported in a number of Arabic websites, including both pro and anti-Assad outlets, but with the addition that the Palestinians in question were members of Hamas, even though the Syrian rebel did not specifically name them.

It is not the first time that such suggestions were made. In April 2013, the London Times newspaper, citing unnamed Western diplomatic sources in contact with the Syrian government and opposition, claimed that the armed wing of Hamas, Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, were training rebel units belonging to Free Syrian Army.

The Times report, whose content was denied by Hamas, also alleged that the Palestinian movement had been aiding the Syrian opposition with tunnel digging, which are used to launch attacks on government forces.

And in June 2013, the pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper reported that "sources close to Hezbollah and the Syrian regime claim that Hamas had a role to play in the battles of Qusayr, [where tunnels] … had been dug using small Iranian devices that Hezbollah had transferred to Hamas."

"Some of the explosives, they added, were found to contain electronic chips that Hamas had acquired from Iran and Hezbollah," the Lebanese paper said.

Ex-Qassam members
However, testimonies from inside Syria point to the involvement of former members of Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, who are not only no longer working with Hamas but also have become critical of the Palestinian movement over its participation in politics and indirect ceasefire agreements with Israel.

"There are Palestinians from Gaza, who have split from Hamas or from smaller militant groups [but not from Islamic Jihad] and are fighting in Syria. They have special expertise in tunnel digging or rocket making," Ibrahim Khader, a Palestinian journalist covering the conflict in Syria, told MEE.

"These Palestinians are not in Gaza, but from Gaza. I know them in person and I have spoken with them; they are Palestinians who have split from the resistance movement (in Gaza) to go to Syria," added Khader, who is a frequent freelance contributor to MEE.

Khader said the former Qassam members, who do not wish to be identified, had been "giving their expertise to what they perceive as Islamic factions in Syria, and not to Ahrar al-Sham alone".

"They (former Qassam members) have helped the Syrian rebels with tunnel digging as the Syrians' experience with the collapsing tunnels is limited," said Khader, adding that they had also "taught the Syrians how to develop Grad-like long-distance rockets."

According to Khader's estimate, the total number of Palestinians who have joined the Syrian rebels from Gaza does not exceed 200, but, he adds, most of them are highly experienced in military skills, including making explosives.

They have been trained by Qassam members, some of whom could have been coached militarily by Iran or Hezbollah, which would explain why the Lebanese movement might have suspected the participation of Hamas in the fighting alongside the Syrian rebels.

"Today Hamas is in a tough spot. It made moves towards reviving ties with Iran and Hezbollah but they (Tehran and the Lebanese movement) have responded with coolness, demanding a high political price," said Khader.

"Hamas is asked to publicly back Assad," said Khader, adding that such a U-turn could not be contemplated by the Palestinian movement, which wants its "stances to be based on principles, not opportunism".

"Besides," Khader said, "the vast majority of people in Gaza are with the Syrian uprising, save a minority of leftists and some others who switch sides to what benefits them at any given moment."

'Both are fighting against tyranny'
MEE has sought to obtain clarifications from the Syrian rebels in Idlib countryside with regards to the affiliation of the Palestinians who have helped with the tunnels, but has so far been unsuccessful in reaching them.

However, Emad Karkas, a Syrian journalist in Idlib, told MEE that the general view amongst critics of Assad is that the Palestinian cause and the Syrian one overlap, "as both are fighting against tyranny".

Assad had been using the suffering of the Palestinian people for political gains, to "shield him from criticism" with regards to his inaction towards Israel as it continues to occupy the Golan Heights for over 40 years, while also utilising their cause to serve as distraction regarding "the persecution of the people," said Karkas.

"After the (March 2011) revolution of dignity, the regime has not shied away from oppressing the Palestinians (in Syria) … shelling them, besieging them and starving them," Karkas added.

The view from the Assad camp is radically different. To them, they are still supporting "the resistance" against Israel, despite "the betrayal of Hamas". They maintain that even as recent as last summer, Syrian weapons were used by Hamas to counter Israel's Operation Protective Edge, a claim denied by the Palestinian movement.

Eased?

 

[SOHEIL]

Eased?