Hamas outsources terror

The Hamas-affiliated  Palestine Times has a photo essay of a Saturday parade in Gaza by the Saladin Brigades of the PRC:




The parade was for the 12th anniversary of the terror group.

Even the PRC website doesn't have all photos.

Since no one can march in Gaza without Hamas permission, and no one can import weapons without Hamas permission, the only conclusion is that Hamas has outsourced some of it terror activities to the PRC and other groups like Islamic Jihad which likewise have similar parades.

This way Hamas can try to portray itself as moderate and pragmatic when they publish op-eds in the New York Times and when they present themselves as the legitimate leaders of "Palestine" to Arab nations, but it can ensure that when it decides that rockets should be fired on Jews, rockets will be fired.

Hamas protests against Egyptian siege of Gaza

Even though the ISM, Free Gaza Movement and others keep refusing to place any blame on Egypt for Gaza's economic isolation, Hamas knows when it makes sense to put some pressure on their fellow Islamists.

This morning, Hamas held a protest rally in Rafah against Egypt's closure of some smuggling tunnels and to try to convince Egypt to allow a free-trade zone in Rafah which would allow goods to enter Gaza more freely. A Hamas spokesperson said that the terror group would be willing to shut the tunnels immediately if the free-trade zone would be established.

Egypt is resisting the idea for a number of reasons: it doesn't want Israel to benefit by making Gaza less dependent on aid from the Israeli side, and it does not want to become responsible for Gaza itself. It also fears that the free trade zone will in effect become part of a de facto expansion of Gaza into the Sinai. Furthermore, Egypt fears that such a zone would make it even harder for Fatah and Hamas to ever reconcile.

For its part, Hamas is trying to shame the Muslim Brotherhood-led Egyptian government to show it really cares about Gaza, and isn't just engaging in lip-service. Banners at the rally feature supposedly suffering Gaza children.

It's getting easier and easier to be a Hamas "martyr"

The latest Hamas "work accident:"

Ezzedeen Al Qassam Brigades (E.Q.B) the military wing of the Islamic resistance movement Hamas, mourned on Sunday morning, September 30th, 2012, the death of the Qassam member Mohammed Abdullah Hamad,22, from Al Nuseirat Refugee Camp in Central Gaza Strip.

The Brigades confirmed in a press statement released on Sunday morning, that the mujahid Mohammed was martyred during his duty, adding that he was martyred after a long bright path of Jihad, hard work, struggle and sacrifice.

Virtual candy all around!

I've noted before how Hamas "martyrs" no longer have to die while actually doing any fighting. But Hamas is now watering down it's definition of "martyr" to - pretty much anything:

Al Qassam Brigades mourns the death of the mujahed Eyad Barhoum As Al Aqsa Intifada against the occupation assault on the Gaza Strip continues, Ezzeddeen Al-Qassam Brigades has its best men to be in the playground of death to defend their people from any attack by the enemy ... Today, Al-Qassam Brigades mourn the death of the Mujahed: Eyad Juma'a Barhoum [39 years old] Yibna neighborhood ' Rafah City

The mujahid Eyad was martyred of heart disease in Egypt. He was martyred at dawn on Wednesday September 26th, 2012. He was martyred after a long bright path of jihad, hard work, struggle and sacrifice.

Now someone can be a martyr when they die of heart disease?

But wait...here's another:

Ezzedeen Al Qassam Brigades (E.Q.B) the military wing of the Islamic resistance movement Hamas, mourned on Wednesday evening, September 26th, 2012, the death of the Qassam member Adham Ali Shahin,28, from Al Nuseirat Refugee Camp in Central Gaza Strip.

The brigades confirmed in a press statement released on Thursday morning, that the mujahid Adham was martyred in car accident several days ago, adding that he was martyred after a long bright path of Jihad, hard work, struggle and sacrifice.

Sounds like Gaza is going through "martyr inflation." Soon every Ahmad, Mahmoud and Hazim will be described as "martyrs" when they drop dead. We'll have cancer martyrs, killed-by-kerosene-heater martyrs, and being-shot-at-wedding martyrs.

If Hamas isn't careful, there will be a shortage of ugly perpetual virgins in Paradise to spend eternity with.

Gee, I hope this Palestinian Lebanese cleric doesn't get an aneurysm

From MEMRI:

Following are excerpts from an interview with Sheik Muhammad Zaghmout, head of the Palestinian Islamic Council in Lebanon, which aired on Mayadeen TV on September 7, 2012.

Sheik Muhammad Zaghmout: I say to myself, to the Islamic scholars, to the Muslims themselves, and to the viewers all over the world ' from north to south, and from east to west: Oh Muslims, unite! Unite! Unite! Unity is the key to your strength, while disintegration will lead to your death.

Implement the words of Allah: "Prepare for them what force and steeds of war you can, to strike terror in the hearts of the enemies of Allah and your enemies." You shall not regain Al-Aqsa and Palestine without preparations, rockets, and guns. You shall not regain Palestine through negotiations, capitulations, kisses, or hugs.

The one thing that will restore Palestine to you is Jihad, Jihad, and more Jihad. Any nation that forsook Jihad was humiliated by Allah.

Interviewer: What about the sanctity of blood?

Sheik Muhammad Zaghmout: A Muslim is forbidden from harming a fellow Muslim ' taking his life, the honor of his women, or his wealth. Allah deems the destruction of the Ka'ba to be less severe than the killing of an innocent Muslim.

In 2007, this same guy said

The Koran says: 'Make ready for them what strength you can...' But we say to Allah: We don't want to, because we're afraid that they will call us terrorists. If killing the Zionist Jews, the Americans, the English, and the French in Palestine, in Iraq, and in Afghanistan is considered terrorism ' I am the number one terrorist.
[...]
The Prophet of Allah has promised us that the Jews will gather in Palestine, and that the Muslims will fight them, and totally kill them. Even the stone and the tree will say: 'Oh Muslims, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.' You might tell me that I am relying on supernatural hadiths. I believe this is not supernatural but is the core of our belief.

If he supports the immigration of Jews to Palestine, then doesn't that make him a Zionist?