Fatah, PA rally behind Hamas at UN ahead of US-crafted resolution
In a strong show of Palestinian unity, Fatah denounced a US-sponsored draft resolution to be proposed to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Thursday that would condemn Hamas’s resistance operations in the Gaza Strip.
Fatah Central Committee (FCC) member, Abbas Zaki, said yesterday: “If Hamas – which carries out resistance – is defined as a terrorist organisation, then all the elements in the Palestinian people are carrying out terror, and this is contrary to reality, because Hamas and the rest of the Palestinians are national liberation movements that are fighting against the Israeli occupation which is carrying out terrorism against our people.”
Zaki’s fellow FCC member, Hussein Al-Sheikh, called on UN member states to reject this “oppressive” resolution, which “equates the victim with the predator”. The resolution claims that Hamas’s actions are incitement to violence against Israel.
Hamas politburo member, Mousa Abu Marzouk, lauded Fatah’s support. “Fatah’s position regarding the US draft resolution which condemns Palestinian resistance is responsible and reflects a unified national interest of one nation under occupation,” Abu Marzouk tweeted. Abu Marzouk also praised the efforts of Riyadh Mansour, the Palestinian Authority representative at the UN, for his efforts to ensure that Palestinian resistance was not criminalized.
Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, has called on the UN to recognise and support the Palestinian people’s right to resist occupation. “We reiterate the right of our people to defend themselves and to resist the occupation by all available means, including armed resistance – guaranteed by the international law,” Haniyeh wrote in a letter to UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Maria Fernada Spinosa.
Hamas leaders have also written to European Union Chief of Foreign Policy, Federica Mogherini, arguing that a vote against Palestinian resistance would, not only legitimise the Israeli occupation, but undermine stability in the occupied territories, and the region as a whole.
South Africa is widely expected to reject the anti-Hamas resolution at the UN.
Source: afropalforum.com
