Islamist group accuses Israel of committing war crimes in backdrop of relentless rocket fire directed at southern communities

Elior Levy Published: 04.09.11, 14:55 / Israel News
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The Hamas movement blamed Israel of committing war crimes against Palestinians in the West Bank on Saturday in the backdrop of relentless rocket fire directed at Israel. Hamas warned that the Palestinian factions' response thus far has been restricted.




The Islamist movement claimed that since Thursday, Israel has committed war crimes against women, children and the elderly. It was also noted that the IDF hit ambulances as part of strikes on Gaza. "Israel will not succeed in achieving its political goals and will not break the spirit of the Palestinian people who stand strong in the face of escalation."



Hamas stressed that Israel was responsible for the escalation and that unlike the Palestinian factions, it does not maintain restraint. The group warned it will not sit idly by as the escalation continues and noted that "Israel must bear the consequences of its actions."




Attack on Gaza Strip (Photo: AFP)



The movement also slammed the international community and claimed that its lack of response enables Israel to "commit crimes." Hamas claimed that the "international community bears responsibility for all repercussions and developments derived from this escalation." T



he organization also called on all Arab states to show solidarity and resist Israeli aggression.



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Hamas spokesmen Sami Abu Zuhri and Fawzi Barhoum praised the Egyptian protestors who burned Israeli flags on Friday outside the Israeli Embassy in Egypt. They also urged for an Arab League meeting following the escalation. The two called on the US to halt financial and military aid to Israel.



Abu Zuhri also said Hamas militants did not intend to target Israeli schoolchildren when they fired a rocket at a bus two days ago, critically wounding a teenager and sparking the latest round of border fighting.




"It was not known that the bus targeted on the outskirts of Gaza carried schoolchildren," he told Reuters, adding that the road where the bus was travelling was often used by Israeli military vehicles.




The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said that more than 70 mortar shells, Qassams and Grad rockets have been fired at Israel in the last two days. Some 15 terrorists were killed and 50 were injured in IDF strikes in the Gaza Strip