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Palestinian Authority Says It Stands Together with Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Using Terror
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas attends the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 28, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
The possibility of the Palestinian Authority (PA) becoming the umbrella for designated terrorist organizations is becoming more real.
On Tuesday, Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) reported that senior Fatah leader Jibril Rajoub declared that there is nothing standing in the way of unity between Fatah and Hamas, since Hamas’ atrocities of October 7th elevated it to the level of a national liberation movement like Fatah.
This declaration came on the heels of many similar statements by PA/Fatah leaders — both in support of unity with terror organizations, and explicit calls for terror.
Top Fatah official Abbas Zaki recently stressed this, stating that Fatah is “one unit” together with terror organizations Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and “every fighting faction” — in other words, anyone who carries out terror against Israel:
Al-Mayadeen TV host: “The meetings in Cairo between the Fatah Movement and Hamas Movement … The headline of these meetings is establishing a committee to manage the affairs of the Gaza Strip. Will this round of meetings be different?” …
Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki: “Our delegation is setting out [to Cairo] with clearest understandings that it is impossible to take action for the Gaza Strip except with mutual agreement and understanding with the brothers in Hamas” …
There is no Palestinian disagreement now that people could exploit. We, Hamas, [Islamic] Jihad, and every fighting faction constitute one unit.” [emphasis added]
[Al-Mayadeen TV (Lebanon), YouTube channel, Nov. 2, 2024]
A Jordanian journalist interviewed on official PA TV was even more explicit, demonizing Israel as “a satanic plant,” that should be attacked “with rocks, knives, and resistance by all means” — in other words, terror:
Jordanian journalist Ramadan Rawashdeh: “The [pro-Palestinian] noble-hearted in Britain and the world knew that [Israel] is a satanic plant in the region, which is not like us [Arabs] in terms of language, skin color, ethnicity, or customs …
Many invaders have come into this region and they were defeated. I am convinced that one day Israel will necessarily be defeated… [Israeli Prime Minister] Netanyahu said: ‘I will bring security to Israel.’ We need to bring about his failure with daily work, with rocks, knives, resistance – resistance by all means.” [emphasis added]
[Official PA TV, Capital of Capitals – Amman, Nov. 14, 2024]
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash: “The Palestinian people has no choice but to remain, stand firm, hold onto the land and the right, and resist with all possible capabilities at our disposal.
The occupation (i.e., Israel) and the aggression have left us no choice but to remain or die.” [emphasis added]
[PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash, Facebook page, Oct. 8, 2024]
The same message was echoed by another Fatah official who, when reminiscing about former PLO chairman Yasser Arafat, stressed that Fatah “will continue to hold onto the weapon” as did Arafat:
Fatah Nablus Branch Secretary Muhammad Hamdan: “We see in [the exhibit’s] pictures how [former PLO Chairman Arafat’s] voice echoes in the UN (refers to Arafat’s 1974 UN speech), how he reminds us and says: ‘I have come bearing a freedom fighter’s gun and an olive branch. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand.’
This is what clarifies that we will continue to draw the weapon until we receive all our national rights.” [emphasis added]
[Official PA TV, Nov. 17, 2024]
PMW has documented Abbas Zaki’s pride in Fatah terror against Israel during the current Gaza war:
Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki: “People [in the world] were shocked by the heroic [Palestinian] stand … The entire NATO alliance and all the capabilities of the West, and with them the mercenaries and collaborators [with Israel], did not succeed in silencing the fighters’ rifles and rockets … I think that ‘the Al-Aqsa Flood’ [Hamas’ name for its October 7 attack] will yet be taught at universities.” [emphasis added]
[Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki, Facebook page, June 2, 2024]
Palestine Today TV host: “The severity [of the situation] concerning the Al-Aqsa Mosque, does it not require that the resistance (i.e., terror) be activated more and more in the West Bank, and that its chained hands be released? Let us say it frankly: Due to what the PA is doing to prevent any expression of the resistance … How can this tradition [of armed struggle] be preserved, and Fatah’s identity of resistance [too], which the Palestinian people has known since the first bullet?”
Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki: “Is there recognition by the forces in Gaza that [Fatah’s] Al-Aqsa Brigades are [among them]?”
Host: “Yes.”
Abbas Zaki: “Then here is Fatah. In the West Bank, it was forbidden to carry a knife [before the 1993 Oslo Accords], now there are fighters there.” [emphasis added]
[Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki, Facebook page, June 2, 2024]
The author is a senior analyst at Palestinian Media Watch, where a version of this article was originally published.
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Israel Says Missile Launched by Yemen’s Houthis ‘Most Likely’ Intercepted
Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi addresses followers via a video link at the al-Shaab Mosque, formerly al-Saleh Mosque, in Sanaa, Yemen, Feb. 6, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
The Israeli army said on Saturday that a missile fired from Yemen towards Israeli territory had been “most likely successfully intercepted,” while Yemen’s Houthi forces claimed responsibility for the launch.
Israel has threatened Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement – which has been attacking Israel in what it says is solidarity with Gaza – with a naval and air blockade if its attacks on Israel persist.
The Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group was responsible for Saturday’s attack, adding that it fired a missile towards the southern Israeli city of Beersheba.
Since the start of Israel’s war in Gaza in October 2023, the Houthis, who control most of Yemen, have been firing at Israel and at shipping in the Red Sea, disrupting global trade.
Most of the dozens of missiles and drones they have launched have been intercepted or fallen short. Israel has carried out a series of retaliatory strikes.
The post Israel Says Missile Launched by Yemen’s Houthis ‘Most Likely’ Intercepted first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Iran Holds Funeral for Commanders and Scientists Killed in War with Israel
People attend the funeral procession of Iranian military commanders, nuclear scientists and others killed in Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 28, 2025. Photo: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
Large crowds of mourners dressed in black lined streets in Iran’s capital Tehran as the country held a funeral on Saturday for top military commanders, nuclear scientists and some of the civilians killed during this month’s aerial war with Israel.
At least 16 scientists and 10 senior commanders were among those mourned at the funeral, according to state media, including armed forces chief Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Revolutionary Guards commander General Hossein Salami, and Guards Aerospace Force chief General Amir Ali Hajizadeh.
Their coffins were driven into Tehran’s Azadi Square adorned with their photos and national flags, as crowds waved flags and some reached out to touch the caskets and throw rose petals onto them. State-run Press TV showed an image of ballistic missiles on display.
Mass prayers were later held in the square.
State TV said the funeral, dubbed the “procession of the Martyrs of Power,” was held for a total of 60 people killed in the war, including four women and four children.
In attendance were President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior figures including Ali Shamkhani, who was seriously wounded during the conflict and is an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as Khamenei’s son Mojtaba.
“Today, Iranians, through heroic resistance against two regimes armed with nuclear weapons, protected their honor and dignity, and look to the future prouder, more dignified, and more resolute than ever,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who also attended the funeral, said in a Telegram post.
There was no immediate statement from Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly since the conflict began. In past funerals, he led prayers over the coffins of senior commanders ahead of public ceremonies broadcast on state television.
Israel launched the air war on June 13, attacking Iranian nuclear facilities and killing top military commanders as well as civilians in the worst blow to the Islamic Republic since the 1980s war with Iraq.
Iran retaliated with barrages of missiles on Israeli military sites, infrastructure and cities. The United States entered the war on June 22 with strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
TRUMP THREAT
Israel, the only Middle Eastern country widely believed to have nuclear weapons, said it aimed to prevent Tehran from developing its own nuclear weapons.
Iran denies having a nuclear weapons program. The U.N. nuclear watchdog has said it has “no credible indication” of an active, coordinated weapons program in Iran.
Bagheri, Salami and Hajizadeh were killed on June 13, the first day of the war. Bagheri was being buried at the Behesht Zahra cemetery outside Tehran mid-afternoon on Saturday. Salami and Hajizadeh were due to be buried on Sunday.
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he would consider bombing Iran again, while Khamenei, who has appeared in two pre-recorded video messages since the start of the war, has said Iran would respond to any future US attack by striking US military bases in the Middle East.
A senior Israeli military official said on Friday that Israel had delivered a “major blow” to Iran’s nuclear project. On Saturday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said in a statement that Israel and the US “failed to achieve their stated objectives” in the war.
According to Iranian health ministry figures, 610 people were killed on the Iranian side in the war before a ceasefire went into effect on Tuesday. More than 4,700 were injured.
Activist news agency HRANA put the number of killed at 974, including 387 civilians.
Israel’s health ministry said 28 were killed in Israel and 3,238 injured.
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Pro-Palestinian Rapper Leads ‘Death to the IDF’ Chant at English Music festival
Revellers dance as Avril Lavigne performs on the Other Stage during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 30, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
i24 News – Chants of “death to the IDF” were heard during the English Glastonbury music festival on Saturday ahead of the appearance of the pro-Palestinian Irish rappers Kneecap.
One half of punk duo based Bob Vylan (who both use aliases to protect their privacy) shouted out during a section of their show “Death to the IDF” – the Israeli military. Videos posted on X (formerly Twitter) show the crowd responding to and repeating the cheer.
This comes after officials had petitioned the music festival to drop the band. The rap duo also expressed support for the following act, Kneecap, who the BCC refused to show live after one of its members, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh – better known by stage name Mo Chara – was charged with a terror offense.
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