A top Hamas leader has warned Israel to expect more Gaza-bound pro-Palestinian flotillas over the next two months, including vessels “from the Gulf”.
Dr Mahmoud Zahar, often seen as the dominant figure in Hamas’ political leadership in Gaza, said he had been informed by “people … from the Gulf states” that “after the Mondial [World Cup] at least eight ships will come from the Gulf”. Zahar did not name the states involved but when asked if they included Iran he replied: “Why not?”
It is more than four weeks since a Turkish-led flotilla was halted by a lethal Israeli commando raid which led to the deaths of nine activists and provoked an international outcry.
The Hamas leader and co-founder also accused Israel of reneging on a prisoner swap agreement which he insisted could have led to the release of captive Israeli soldier Sergeant Gilad Shalit.
Zahar said those in Hamas’ military wing presumed to be holding Shalit were still refusing to allow the Red Cross or any other independent humanitarian organisation to visit him. Asked if it was believable that the Red Cross would use a humanitarian visit to pass details of the abducted sergeant’s whereabouts to Israel, he said: “I trust nobody.”
He insisted that during the last negotiations, brokered by a German mediator, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to a first list of 325 Palestinian prisoners to be released and on the principle that another 125 would be nominated by the Islamic faction and approved by Israel.
But “everything changed” after a meeting of the Israeli Cabinet.
Claiming that there would be more flotillas “than in your imagination”, he said he also expected more vessels to set out for Gaza during Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, which begins this year on August 11.
On the possibility that Egypt might prevent a flotilla from the Gulf passing through the Suez Canal en route to Gaza, he said Egypt would never be able to stop such a campaign.
Zahar was bitterly critical of Western policy towards Hamas and Gaza over the 4 years since the Islamic faction won the last Palestinian elections.
“Why did the Western people boycott Hamas after the election?” he asked. “Because they want a new Karzai in Palestine.”
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