Hamas’ Military Wing Threatens to Target All Israeli Cities if Strikes Continue on Civilian Homes and Shelters
The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, threatened to target all Israeli cities if Israel continues the alleged policy of striking civilian homes and shelters to cover its “military failure”.
In a press release published on its website in Arabic and English on August 3, 2014, the al-Qassam Brigades claimed striking Tel Aviv, Beersheba, and Kiryat Malachi with a total of 13 rockets, and indicated that they are a response to attacks on Palestinians, the latest of which was the bombardment of a UNRWA school in Rafah where civilians had taken shelter. It added: “We have exerted our utmost effort to target enemy military targets only; and tried to refrain from intentionally targeting civilians. On the other hand, the enemy continues to try to cover its military failures by targeting Palestinian civilian in their homes and shelters; while at the same time choosing to withdraw his soldiers from the battlefield against us and other resistance factions. If the enemy continues this criminal policy, all Zionist cities will be targeted. No life is more precious than the lives of our dear people.”
Following is a copy of the English message:
Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Brigades
No life is more precious than the lives of our dear people
As part of the ongoing battle in its 28th day, Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Brigades continues retaliatory strikes in response to the Zionist aggression and horrendous massacres against innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip. In this regard, the Brigades announces the following operations:
- Striking Tel Aviv with M75 rocket.
- Striking Beersheba with 4 Grad rockets.
- Striking Kiryat Malachi with 8 Grad rockets.
In addition to these operations, Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Brigades affirms the following:
1- These operations are a response to Zionist massacres committed against our people, the last of which was the brutal bombardment of an UNRWA school in Rafah sheltering civilians forcefully uprooted from their homes.
2- We have exerted our utmost effort to target enemy military targets only; and tried to refrain from intentionally targeting civilians. On the other hand, the enemy continues to try to cover its military failures by targeting Palestinian civilian in their homes and shelters; while at the same time choosing to withdraw his soldiers from the battlefield against us and other resistance factions. If the enemy continues this criminal policy, all Zionist cities will be targeted. No life is more precious than the lives of our dear people.
3- The enemy will not know calm, security, or stability if our people do not attain their just rights, freedom, dignity, and security. The enemy should understand clearly that our people will not accept anything less; and should also know that the resistance still possesses the means to force the recognition and fulfillment of our people's just rights.
