Statements come amid ceasefire announced early Thursday following intense exchanges in Gaza between IDF and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
By SETH J. FRANTZMANPalestinians take part in a rally marking the 31st anniversary of Hamas' founding, in Gaza City(photo credit: IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA / REUTERS)
In the wake of the ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hamas slammed the European Union for its “weak position toward the Palestinian cause,” and claimed that a “Zionist lobby” dominated “political actors in Brussels.”The statement on Thursday was released by Dr. Basem Naim, head of Hamas’ International Relations Office. Naim has previously held other Hamas positions in the health and sports ministries in Gaza.“Once again, the European Union expresses a weak position toward the Palestinian cause,” he said. The EU now reflects “the Zionist lobby’s domination over political actors in Brussels.”The statement was sent in English to a Hamas account for journalists and also posted on their website.It reflects Hamas reactions to the crises over the last few days in which Palestinian Islamic Jihad fired more than 350 rockets at Israel in response to Israel’s killing of a PIJ commander on Tuesday. Hamas, which has run the Gaza Strip for 12 years, claimed that 25 Palestinian civilians had been killed in the last 48 hours. It condemned EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic for her statements about the EU position, saying that “Indeed the stance of the EU is unfair and totally biased toward the Israeli occupation.” Hamas says that the EU has blamed “homemade rockets and projectiles launched from the Gaza Strip, while turning a blind eye to the ongoing Israeli aggression against our people.”The EU released a statement on November 12 that condemned as unacceptable the firing of rockets on civilians in Israel, called for a de-escalation, and supported Egypt’s efforts to bring about a ceasefire.“The EU has consistently reiterated, only a political solution can put an end to these continuing cycles of violence,” the statement said.Hamas said it expected the EU to call on “the Israeli occupation to abide by the provisions of international law and international humanitarian law and stop its aggression immediately.”The firing of rockets, which Hamas did not take part in during this round of fighting, “came as a response to the Israeli occupation’s continuing crimes against our people,” the terrorist group said, adding that it wants the EU to call on Israel to end its blockade of Gaza, and push for an end to the “occupation of our land and holy places.”Hamas now says that the EU cannot play a pivotal role in the conflict if it doesn’t take a balanced position.
