Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, slated to take place this summer, is a result of pressure from the terror movement Hamas, according to one of the organization’s leaders, Mahmoud A-Zahhar.
A-Zahhar told the British newspaper The Times in an interview published on Thursday that Israel’s withdrawal is a victory for Hamas. Israel is withdrawing under fire and the pullout is not at all the result of negotiations, he told the paper from his hideout in Gaza.
Hamas has assumed responsibility for numerous terror attacks resulting in the death and injury of hundreds of Israeli civilians. The organization has also fired mortars and missiles from the Gaza Strip onto Israeli communities inside Gaza and in pre-1967 territories.
A-Zahhar refused to declare that Hamas would maintain calm with Israel after the pullout from the Gaza Strip. He said it depends on the conditions of the pullout and on Israel’s conduct later on.
Three brothers in the United States were found guilty on Wednesday of funneling money to Hamas. According to AP, Ghassan, Basman and Bayan Elashi were tried on 21 counts of conspiracy, money laundering and dealing in property of a terrorist. Ghassan and Bayan were found guilty on all 21 counts, and Basman was found guilty on three counts.
Hamas is on the U.S. State Department’s list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations.