Hamas, Hezbollah, and the war on Iran

“There is speculation about what would happen if Israel bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities,” Nasrallah said at the time. “I tell you that the Iranian leadership will not ask Hezbollah to do anything. On that day, we will sit, think and decide what we will do.”

Hamas to Stay Out of Possible War between Israel and Iran

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum told The Associated Press that the group has only "humble weapons that aim to defend and not to attack."

This limited arsenal "does not give us the ability to be part of any regional war," he said.

Salah Bardawil, a member of Hamas' top decision-making body, the political bureau, reportedly adopted a similar view.

Speaking to The Guardian, Salah Bardawil a member of Hamas' political leadership in Gaza, says "If there is a war between two powers, Hamas will not be part of such a war."

"Hamas is not part of military alliances in the region," he continued, "our strategy is to defend our rights."Palestinian movement Hamas will not interfere in a possible war between Israel and Iran, Ahmad Yousef, one of the movement leaders, said in an interview with Maan agency.
Israel has recently stepped up its verbal threats to attack Iran if it does not abandon its nuclear ambitions and the United States has also not ruled out the possibility of using military force against the Islamic Republic.

“Hamas will not join the war and this issue has not been discussed by movement’s leadership. Moreover, Iran has its own military potential and is capable of protecting itself,” Yousef said.

Hamas Denies It Would Stay Out Of Israel-Iran War'
Thursday, 8 March 2012

Senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahar denied reports in British media Wednesday that the Gaza-based group would stay out of any military conflict between Israel and Iran, the Iranian Fars news site reported.

"Retaliation with utmost power is the position of Hamas with regard to a Zionist (Israeli) war on Iran," Fars quoted Zahar as saying.

The quote directly contradicts a BBC report the same day, which said Zahar told the news outlet: "If Israel attacks us we will respond. If they don't, we will not get involved in any other regional conflict."

A day earlier, another Hamas official also asserted that the group would stay out of a war between Israel and Iran. Hamas Political Bureau member Salah Bardawil was quoted by the UK's Guardian saying, "If there is a war between two powers, Hamas will not be part of such a war."

"Hamas is not part of military alliances in the region," he continued, "our strategy is to defend our rights."

Speaking with Fars Wednesday, Zahar added that the group would respond not only against Israel if it attacked Iran, but also, "whoever [was] helping them.".... In both the Guardian and BBC reports, the Hamas officials discussed Iran's funding of the group, although there too, conflicting messages were sent. The Guardian quoted Bardawil as saying, "In the early days of the blockade (on Gaza), the money was very good, but it was reduced two years ago.” The BBC quoted an unnamed Hamas official in Gaza as saying that while "Iran has been very generous with its money," the Iran and Hamas have little in common ideologically. 

Thursday, 8 March 2012

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian

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