GAZA, Aug. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- A fugitive Hamas leader who is the most wanted militant by Israel vowed on Saturday to carry out more anti-Israeli attacks till the liberation of all Palestinian territories.
In a videotape sent to reporters, Mohammed Deif, the shadowy leader of Hamas' armed wing Ezel Dein al-Qassam, called on all Palestinians living in the West Bank and inside Israel to continue their struggle until Israel is expelled from all the Palestinian territories and Jerusalem.
Deif, who has been in hiding after he escaped an assassination attempt by Israel in 2003, also urged the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) not to disarm militants.
Deif is believed to remain the top wanted militant by Israel, which accuses him of planning suicide bombing attacks which killed dozens of Israelis.
Deif also hailed Israel's withdrawal from all Gaza and part of the West Bank as a victory of the Palestinian resistance.
"Without this Jihad (fighting) and this steadfastness, we couldn't be able to achieve the liberation of the Gaza Strip," Deif said in the videotape.
Addressing Israel, Deif said "you have occupied our lands and now you are leaving Gaza humiliated."
Israel completed this week its evacuation of all 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip and four in the northern West Bank, lands they captured in the 1967 Middle East war.
This is also the first time Israel withdrew from lands the Palestinians want for a state.
Hardliner Israelis fiercely opposed the withdrawal, considering it capitulation to Palestinian uprising and fearing it would invite more violence on the Palestinian side.
Deif also urged Hamas and the PNA to choose dialogue as a way to solve disagreements and to protect the Palestinian national interests.
Deif was shown in the video sitting in a chair and wearing a dark shirt with a shadow cast over his face. The video could not indicate his whereabouts. Enditem |