தமிழ் பேசும் விளையாட்டு வீர வீராங்கனைகள் எவருமில்லை கிளாஸ்கோவில் ! இதுவா நல்லிணக்கம்?

தமிழ் பேசும் விளையாட்டு வீர வீராங்கனைகள் எவருமில்லை கிளாஸ்கோவில் ! இதுவா நல்லிணக்கம்?

ஸ்காட்லாந்தின் கிளாஸ்கோ நகரில் அண்மையில் நடந்துமுடிந்த 20-வது காமன்வெல்த் விளையாட்டு விழாவின்போது விளையாட்டுத் துறை அமைச்சர்களுக்கிடையிலான கருத்தரங்கொன்று நடந்தது.

முப்பது ஆண்டு கால போருக்குப் பின்னர் இலங்கை விளையாட்டுத்துறை ஊடாக இனங்களுக்கு இடையே நல்லிணக்கத்தை ஏற்படுத்த முனைவதாக இலங்கை அமைச்சர் மகிந்தானந்த அளுத்கமகே இந்த கருத்தரங்கில் விளக்கமளித்திருந்தார்.

வடக்கு கிழக்குப் பிரதேசங்களில் விளையாட்டு உட்கட்டமைப்பு வசதிகளை அபிவிருத்திசெய்து விளையாட்டு வீரர்களை அடையாளம் கண்டு ஊக்குவித்து வருவதாக 71 அணிகளைப் பிரதிநிதித்துவப்படுத்தும் உலக விளையாட்டுத் துறை அமைச்சர்கள் மத்தியில் இலங்கை அமைச்சர் பெருமைப்பட்டுக் கொண்டார்.

´முன்னாள் போர் வலயங்களைச் சேர்ந்த இளைஞர்களை உள்வாங்கிக் கொண்டு வேலைத்திட்டம் ஒன்றை ஆரம்பிக்குமாறு அரசாங்கம் எங்களைக் கேட்டுக் கொண்டது. அதற்காக நாங்கள் தேர்ந்தெடுத்த வழிமுறை தான் விளையாட்டுத்துறை´ என்றார் இலங்கை விளையாட்டுத்துறை அமைச்சர் மகிந்தானந்த அளுத்கமகே.

இம்முறை கிளாஸ்கோ விளையாட்டு விழாவில் 104 விளையாட்டு வீர-வீராங்கனைகள் இலங்கையிலிருந்து கலந்துகொண்டிருந்தனர். மேலதிகமாக 45 விளையாட்டு அதிகாரிகளும் வந்திருந்தனர்.

ஆனால், இவர்களில் வடக்குக் கிழக்குப் பிரதேசங்களைச் சேர்ந்த தமிழ் பேசும் விளையாட்டு வீர வீராங்கனைகள் எவரையும் கிளாஸ்கோவில் காணக்கிடைக்க வில்லை.

ஆனால், உள்ளூர் தேசிய மட்டப் போட்டிகளில் வடக்கு கிழக்கு இளைஞர்கள் திறமைகளை வெளிப்படுத்திவருவதாக அதிகாரிகள் கூறுகின்றனர்.

Taher: Disarming the resistance is a pipe dream of the occupier

 Disarming the resistance is a pipe dream of the occupier

It is our inalienable right to resist this occupation

Aug 06 2014


“Disarming the resistance is out of the question, and all factions hold tight to their weapons as long as their is occupation anywhere on the land of Palestine,” said Comrade Dr. Maher al-Taher, a member of the political bureau of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

“There are various media reports that Israel will not accept the reconstruction of Gaza except after the removal of the weapons of the resistance, and it is demanding to supervise everything that enters the Strip. We have affirmed very clearly that the idea of disarming the resistance is a pipe dream and an illusion that is unacceptable to all. It is unacceptable to even discuss this issue in principle or see it as a debatable question. It is our inalienable right to resist this occupation,” said Taher.

He noted that the Palestinian delegation is united in its insistence to lift the siege imposed on Gaza and allow free movement of goods and people. “This demand is part of the political battle, which must be addressed as competently and with as much steadfastness and clarity as the resistance has done in the military battlefield.”

Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees: Ban Ki-Moon must resign immediately

Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees: Ban Ki-Moon must resign immediately

Aug 04 2014

The Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees released the following statement on August 3:

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon gave a green light to the Zionist occupation to continue its aggression and carry out more massacres against our people in the Gaza Strip using internationally prohibited weapons. Following his remarks about the need to “immediately and unconditionally release the soldier,” relying on the false claims by the occupation state to justify breaking the humanitarian ceasefire, the occupier has killed more than 200 children, women and men, wounding hundreds more and destroying more homes and displacing thousands more during what was alleged to be a United Nations-sponsored ceasefire!

This comes in addition to his comments that “the United Nations strongly condemns the rocket attacks on Israel, and calls for an end to them immediately.” He says this while there are massive massacres taking place in the Strip impacting every one of our people in Gaza, even those who have taken refuge in UNRWA schools. We are left to bury our people, after these vicious attacks, following which the occupation state declared that the soldier in question was dead.

We demand that Ban Ki-Moon immediately resign from office, as it is clear that he is biased to stand with the perpetrator and the criminal, the occupation, rather than to stand with the victim. We demand that he be tried for the consequences of his actions. And we demand from all forces and institutions, and from all the friends of the Palestinian people to work together to campaign demanding his resignation and his trial as a partner in the aggression against the sons and daughters of our people.

We also emphasize the urgent need to continue all activities to support our people in Gaza, in Palestine and in all areas of the world.

PFLP praises direct actions for Palestine and urges further escalation

PFLP praises direct actions for Palestine and urges further escalation
Aug 06 2014

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine praises the direct actions taken by various groups around the world to shut down the operations of the war machine assaulting the Palestinian people, and calls for increasing and escalating these actions everywhere the occupier and its supporters are present.

The Front commended the multiple direct actions around the world targeting Israeli embassies, consulates, institutions and corporations, including the 2-day occupation of an Elbit arms factory outside Birmingham, UK; the blockade of the Israeli embassy in The Hague; the shutdown of El Al’s ticket counter in Athens; popular de-shelving and removal of Israeli products in Ireland; and actions in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Albuquerque in the United States at Israeli missions and consulates, Bank Leumi, Israel Discount Bank, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin, as well as a upcoming blockade of an Israeli ZIM Ship in Oakland, California. These actions come amid a flurry of die-ins and sit-ins in parliamentary and government offices across Europe, North America and around the world, and demonstrations in Paris and elsewhere taking the streets, defying police and government repression to stand with Palestine.

Comrade Khaled Barakat said, in a message to the solidarity movements with Palestine around the world, that “These actions are part of the Palestinian, Arab and international resistance to the Israeli massacres against our people. They illustrate that the people of the world are fed up with the images they have seen for the past month – of children torn apart and innocent Palestinians besieged and bombarded. This has been the Palestinian reality for over 66 years – and the people of the world are saying, ‘Enough!’ We want to see more of these direct actions, such as occupying Israeli and U.S. embassies and consulates, shutting down war profiteers and occupation corporations, and civil disobedience actions in cities around the world. These actions make clear that Palestinians are not alone, and that the people of the world are putting their own bodies on the line because they will no longer tolerate the illegitimate occupation state’s actions.”

Barakat emphasized that the Palestinian struggle is an international struggle; as Comrade Ghassan Kanafani said, “The Palestinian cause is not a cause for Palestinians only, but a cause for every revolutionary, wherever he is, as a cause of the exploited and oppressed masses in our era.”

“The impact of these direct actions is felt in every Palestinian heart in Gaza. They are heard and felt by every Palestinian fighter in Gaza who emerges from the tunnels of resistance, that the people of conscience of the world stand with our just struggle for liberation,” said Barakat.

Barakat noted that “while the colonial and settler colonial governments of the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and the European Union are engaged in an imperialist campaign to liquidate the Palestinian people and their cause, hundreds of thousands of people in these countries have taken to the streets to stand with Palestine and denounce the bloody complicity of these powers, the sponsors of the racist settler colonial project in Palestine. What drives individuals and groups to occupy an Israeli embassy or shut down an Israeli weapons factory is their deep sense of justice, and their outrage at the injustices inflicted upon the Palestinian people.”

He saluted the support of the people of Latin America, as well as the official support extended by Latin American governments, including Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, El Salvador Brazil, Chile, and Ecuador. “The people of Latin America have fought colonialism and U.S. imperialism for too long to remain silent in the face of the U.S.-sponsored war machine occupying Palestine and massacring our people,” said Barakat.
sains“The Palestinian resistance has always welcomed internationalists to fight among us, and to be an integral part of this struggle. There are countless internationals: fighters, leaders, artists, writers, journalists, who have done so and continue to do so, and we know them through their direct actions. They join the Palestinian struggle through their direct actions, in armed struggle, in demonstrations, in occupying embassies and war and occupation profiteers and putting themselves on the line alongside our people,” Barakat said.

Barakat noted that “these direct actions send a significant message also to the occupation state: that the world is watching and the people are watching – and that they are angry, and acting, and not merely observing. Occupying Israeli embassies, consulates, trade offices, and corporations everywhere in the world is an important part of boycotting and isolating the settler-colonial apartheid regime in Palestine. This kind of action is also reaching the occupier’s media and public. They can no longer count on the silence or the ignorance of the people of the world – today, after over 66 years of Zionist colonization and occupation in Palestine, it is quite clear that the world does know, and is speaking and acting to bring an end to the massacres and the crimes. The Israeli entity must learn that the world no longer can tolerate Zionism.”

PFLP: We will not raise the white flag in the face of massacres

PFLP: We will not raise the white flag in the face of massacres

Aug 03 2014

A statement from the Popular Front for the Liberation of  Palestine in the Gaza Strip

We will not raise the white flag – and the blood of the martyrs of Rafah and Gaza illuminates the road to liberation

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine saluted proudly the heroic military resistance of the Palestinian people east of Rafah, leading to the deaths of many soldiers and reports of the capture of an officer, confirming that the continued Zionist crimes against the people of Gaza, the latest being the massacre of dozens of people in Rafah, will not pass in vain, and that the blood of the martyrs of our people will remain a beacon that illuminates our path to liberation.

The criminal and brutal Zionist enemy intended in advance to target the city of Rafah through massive assaults on the city since yesterday, committing open atrocities against our people without seeing any need to justify its continuous aggression since its occupation began on the land of Palestine. The barbaric war machine’s crimes during the continued assault on Gaza for over 26 days confirms its defeat by the resistance strikes as it has resorted instead to bloody massacres against civilians, innocent women, men, children and elders in indiscriminate and massive bombing and shelling. The Front also reiterated the resistance’s confirmation that the clash with invading occupation soldiers took place before the beginning of the humanitarian ceasefire.

The Front is confident in the Palestinian resistance, its military wings, and its achievements, and the occupation’s criminal assaults and invasions of Rafah are desperate attempts to justify its utter failure in front of the great and brave resistance and its heroism, noting at the same time that the resistance is prepared to confront all of the occupation’s threats and plans to invase Rafah. The resistance will not give up, our people’s resolve will not be broken. We will not raise the white flag. We are determined to win this battle and the resistance will continue to shatter the image of the invincible Zionist soldier.

The Front renewed its emphasis on the need for our people in the West Bank to escalate their ongoing clashes with the Zionist occupation in all areas, and also emphasized the need for the Palestinian people in exile and diaspora, the Arab masses and the free people of the world to escalate their actions to support Gaza and take the streets and besiege the embassies of the Zionist enemy and expel their ambassadors.

The Front also demanded that the official Palestinian leadership 

immediately sign without any delay the Rome Statute and go to the 

International Criminal Court to prosecute the leaders of the occupation for their heinous crimes in the Gaza Strip. There is no excuse for continued postponement on this and the lack of response is understood clearly as collusion and participation in the aggression.

The PFLP saluted the steadfastness of our people in Rafah, Beit Hanoun and throughout the Strip who are subjected to systematic genocide, saying that victory is coming to reward their immense steadfastness and patience in the face of unspeakable crimes.

Chris Gunness overcome with Tears

Palestinian leadership must be committed to resistance

Comrade Khalida Jarrar

Jarrar: Palestinian leadership must be committed to resistance and the people’s right to defend themselves
Jul 20 2014


Comrade Khalida Jarrar, a leader in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, said that any Palestinian leadership must be committed to the option of resistance, the people and their right to defend themselves.

In comments to Palestine Today, Jarrar denounced the statements of PA President Mahmoud Abbas regarding the aggression on the Gaza Strip, saying that “The leadership today appears to exist in a different reality from the situation of the Palestinian people in the streets.” She demanded a full and immediate end to security coordination with the enemy, saying that these security commitments by the Palestinian Authority keep the Palestinian people at the mercy of the occupation. She demanded the government of national consensus to uphold their responsibilities to meet the needs of Gaza and confront the ongoing aggression, saying that the occupation is trying to divide the Gaza Strip from the West Bank and the rest of Palestine, and this must not be allowed.

Jarrar urged the people and the resistance in the West Bank to express their anger and demanded that the PA security services stop the repression of Palestinian youth seeking to clash with the occupation, and instead protect the people, and called for the formation of popular leadership on the ground to lead the Palestinian people.

காசா ஆதரவு காஸ்மீர் ஆர்ப்பாட்டத்தில் துப்பாக்கிச் சூடு!

Kashmiris hit streets against Gaza bloodbath

Youth critical as forces open fire on protesters at Qaimoh; Clashes in Bandipora, Sopore, Srinagar, Baramulla
KHALID GUL/ABID BASHIR
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Srinagar, July 18:  A youth was critically injured in Qaimoh area of Kulgam district in South Kashmir during clashes Friday as Kashmir once again registered its anger against the Israeli aggression in Gaza that left over 250 people dead and 1700, including women and children, injured. Nearly a dozen youth and a few cops were injured in the clashes across Kashmir.

Pertinently, Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani had urged people to stage peaceful demonstrations against Israeli aggression in Gaza post-Friday congregational prayers.

SOUTH KASHMIR
Reports said soon after the Friday prayers people in Qaimoh and adjoining areas of Khudwani and Redwani staged massive anti-Israel demonstrations. The protesters carrying placards were shouting anti-Israel, anti-US and anti-India slogans. The protesters marched towards Srinagar-Jammu highway and resorted to stone-pelting on the forces, resulting in clashes.  “The paramilitary forces fired at the protesters resulting in bullet injury to one youth,” eyewitnesses said. The youth was identified as Amir Ahmad Parray S/O Abdul Majid Parray, age 19 years, a resident of Gufbal village of Qaimoh. He was shifted to district hospital Anantnag for treatment where from he was rushed to SKIMS, Soura (Srinagar) in a critical condition. “Amir has received bullet injury on right side of his chest,” said a doctor at the district hospital Anantnag.  Several other people also sustained injuries.

“One Sajad Ahmad Wani S/O Abdul RehmanWani of Qaimoh received tear smoke canister injury and was also being treated at the district hospital,” reports said.

One of the pedestrians, identified as Sameer Ahmad S/O Muhammad YousufShalla of Uran Hall village of Anantnag district, suffered serious injuries after paramilitary forces allegedly beat him to pulp. “I was not part of the protest but the CRPF personnel mercilessly thrashed me with gun butts and bamboo sticks,” said Sameer, who suffered severe eye injury and was also being treated at the district hospital.

Several cops and paramilitary forces personnel were reportedly injured in the clashes and many vehicles damaged by the protesters. Clashes were on in Qaimoh and adjoining areas when reports last came in.
Superintendent of Police (SP) KulgamMumtaz Ahmad said police is trying to ascertain the details.
Massive anti–Israel protests also rocked South Kashmir districts of Islamabad, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian.

Reports said in Islamabad town, as Friday prayers concluded, people assembled in large numbers outside Jamia Masjid Ahli-Hadith, Bait-ul-Muqaram, RehatDed Masjid, Jamia Masjid Hanfia and several other Masjids and marched towards LalChowk. “The protesters were carrying placards and banners reading Save Palestine and Down with Israel,” eyewitnesses said.

Reports said local Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leaders led the protest demonstration even as police detained district president Hurriyat (G) to prevent him from leading the procession. “Police and CRPF men who were deployed in strength to thwart the protests used force to disperse the protesters triggering clashes,” reports said.

Locals said that youth pelted stones on the forces who retaliated by baton charge and tear gas shelling. “Clashes soon spread to other old town areas including Reeshi Bazar, Malakhnag, CheeniChowk, Sheerpora, JanglatMandi, Kadipora and Sarnal,” reports said. Youth fought pitched battles with forces, and clashes were on till reports last came in and spread to even areas of Khannabal-Pahalgam (KP) road.
Earlier Thursday night protests rocked Sarnal area after the paramilitary forces allegedly thrashed locals who were going for night (Isha) prayers. Locals alleged that the forces personnel also smashed the windowpanes of the houses.

Massive protests were also staged in Pulwama town. “People marched towards the streets of town amid anti-Israel, anti-US and anti-India slogans,” eyewitnesses said. They said the protesters were wearing black arm bands and carrying placards. Police resorted to tear gas shelling to disperse protesters near Main ChowkPulwama. Sporadic incidents of stone pelting were also reported from the town.

Reports of protests were also received from Tral, Awantipora, Pampore and Rajpora areas of the district.
In Shopian town also, massive protest rallies were taken out from Jamia Masjid and Tak Masjid. Protest demonstrations were led by Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leader and district president, Hurriyat (G), Muhammad YousufFalahi.

CENTRAL KASHMIR
Soon after the Friday prayers, Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq led a protest demonstration outside historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar against Gaza carnage. Mirwaiz was wearing a black band as a mark of protest against Israel.

Mirwaiz while condemning the silence of United Nations over the innocent killings in Gaza, raised anti-UN slogans. As Mirwaiz left the spot, scores of youth assembled at Nowhatta and engaged in clashes with the forces. Police resorted to heavy tear gas shelling to quell the protesters. Heavy stone pelting and clashes were going on in Nohwatta and other areas of the old city when this report was filed.

Protest rallies were taken out from many Masjids in Srinagar against Israel’s aggression in Gaza.  A protest march started from Jamia Masjid Hyderpora that culminated at GhantaGhar, LalChowk peacefully. The protesters were carrying placards displaying anti-Israel slogans.  Another protest rally started from the shrine of Hazrat Sheikh Abdul QadirJeelani (RA) at Sarai Bala. Reports of protests also poured in from many other parts of Srinagar and elsewhere.

Before Friday prayers, senior Hurriyat (M) leader and JKLF (H) chairman Javaid Ahmed Mir staged a peaceful demonstration in Press Enclave here against the Israeli aggression in Gaza.

NORTH KASHMIR
Soon after Friday prayers, hundreds of people took to the streets near Jamia Masjid Sopore to stage anti-Israel protests. The protestors also burnt Israeli flags. According to reports, the protests spread to other areas like College Road and interiors of Sopore town, triggering clashes between youth and forces. At least six people sustained minor injuries in the clashes.

In Baramulla district, IttihadulMuslimeen organized a peaceful demonstration at Hanjiwera, Pattan after Friday prayers. A large number of people from all walks of life while condemning the killing of innocent civilians, children and women by Israelis in Gaza joined the protests. Demonstrators and protesters holding placards and banners were chanting slogans like, “Down with America, Down with Israel, Save Gaza, Shia-Sunni Bhai Bhai.”

Reports of similar protests were registered from many areas of Kupwara district of north Kashmir as well.
Thousands of people gathered in the main market Kupwara after Friday prayers to protest Israeli aggression in Gaza. The main procession was taken out from MarkaziJamia Masjid that passed through different markets.

Meanwhile, a protest rally was also taken out from Jamia Masjid Kunzar and Jamai Masjid Tangmarg. Areas that include Chandilora and Duroo on the Srinagar-Gulmarg road observed a partial shutdown.
In Kupwara town, Handwara, Lalpora (Lolab) and Trehgam hundreds of people immediately after the Friday prayers took to streets against the carnage of Palestinians. Police resorted to mild tear-gas shelling to quell the angry protesters.

Violent clashes erupted in Bandipora district of north Kashmir post-Friday prayers as hundreds of people staged demos against Gaza carnage. According to reports, as the protesters reached Main Chowk, scores of youth resorted to stone pelting forcing the police and paramilitary CRPF to retaliate with tear gas shells. In the ensuing clashes, at least six persons including four youth and two cops were injured. The injured youth were identified as Fayaz Ahmed of Kaloosa, Shakir Ahmed, Waseem Hassan and Jamsheed residents of Bandipora town. People also staged protests in Main Town, Papchan, Hajin, Naidkhai, Sumbal, Arin, Watapora, Ashtangoo and Nowgam. As the clashes spread, authorities brought in more forces to quell the protests who responded with heavy tear gas shelling. Youth were fighting with police and paramilitary in ding-dong battles till this report was filed.

PROTESTS IN KU CAMPUS
Dozens of Kashmir University students despite summer break also staged protests against Israel after Friday prayers despite warnings issued by the authorities. A group of protesting students told Greater Kashmir that they registered a strong protest against the Israeli aggression in Gaza. “It is our duty as Muslims to protest against the innocent killings of people, especially children in Gaza,” they said. The varsity students also alleged that KU’s chief proctor had warned them of dire consequences in case they stage any protests in the campus. “Soon after the protest, many students were detained by the police,” a group of students said.  Pertinently, the University authorities have already announced summer break from July 18 to July 31.

POLICE VERSION 
Police said stray incidents of stone-pelting were reported in the afternoon from Qaimoh, Wanpoh in Kulgam, NaidKhai, Sopore, Papchan, Bandipora and Nowhatta Srinagar.

“One person Amir Ahmad was injured at Wanpoh, he has been shifted to Srinagar Hospital where his condition is being reported to be stable, besides a lady Hasina was injured in Sopore and was shifted to a hospital,” a police spokesman said.  

(With ShahidRafiq and Sheikh Nazir)

காசாப்படுகொலையைக் கண்டித்து இஸ்லாமியத் தமிழர்கள் ஆர்ப்பாட்டம்

காசாப்படுகொலையைக் கண்டித்து இஸ்லாமியத் தமிழர்கள் ஆர்ப்பாட்டம்! அமெரிக்க இஸ்ரேலியக் கொடிகள் தீவைப்பு!!

இலங்கை வாழ் முஸ்லிம்கள் இன்று செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை புனித ரமழான் பண்டிகையைக் கொண்டாடும் அதே வேளை இந்த ஆர்ப்பாட்டங்கள் நடந்தன.

மட்டக்களப்பு மாவட்டத்தில் காத்தான்குடி, அம்பாறை மாவட்டத்தில் பாலமுனை மற்றும் சின்னப்பாலமுனை ஆகிய இடங்களில் நடைபெற்ற இந்த கண்டன ஆர்பாட்டங்களில் பெரும் எண்ணிக்கையிலான முஸ்லிம்கள் கலந்து கொண்டார்கள்.

பள்ளிவாசல்களிலும் பொது இடங்களிலும் இன்று காலை புனித ரமதான் தொழுகைக்காக ஒன்று கூடிய முஸ்லிம்கள் தொழுகையின் பின்னர் வீதிகளில் இறங்கி ஆர்ப்பாட்டங்களில் ஈடுபட்டனர்.

ஆர்பாட்டங்களில் கலந்து கொண்டவர்கள் குறிப்பாக பலஸ்தீன் காஸா மீதான தாக்குதல்களில் கொல்லப்பட்ட குழந்தைகளின் படங்கள் உட்பட, மேலும் படுகொலைப் படங்களையும் தமது கைகளில் ஏந்தியவாறு காணப்பட்டார்கள்.

அமெரிக்கா மற்றும் இஸ்ரேலுக்கு எதிராகவும் பாலஸ்தீனத்துக்கு ஆதரவாகவும் வாசக அட்டைகளை ஏந்தியவாறு, யுத்தத்தை நிறுத்தவேண்டுமென முழக்கமிட்டனர்.

முடிவில் அமெரிக்கா மற்றும் இஸ்ரேல் ஆகிய நாடுகளின் தேசியக் கொடிகள் ஆர்பாட்டக்காரர்களினால் தீ மூட்டி எரிக்கப்பட்டன.

Shuja’iya Massacre proves the nature of the occupier and the failure of its aggression

Barakat: Shuja’iya Massacre proves the nature of the occupier and the failure of its aggression
Jul 20 2014

khaled-barakatComrade Khaled Barakat said in an interview with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine media department that “the horrific massacre in Shuja’iya neighborhood in Gaza only proves the brutal, racist, colonialist nature of the occupier that Palestinians are fighting against. The massacre today is one in a long line of ongoing and continuing massacres aiming at the expulsion of Palestinians from our land for over 66 years. The occupation state is based on the massacres and expulsion of Palestinians from their land. It is an illegitimate, racist, settler colonial entity and this shines through in its massacres in Gaza.”

“The massacre also indicates the failure of the aggression and the cowardice of the Israeli Occupation Forces,” Barakat said. “Killing children and bombing civilians is not military heroism. This massacre, conducted with U.S.-made and funded weapons before the eyes of the world, with the silence and complicity of imperial powers and Arab regimes, is another proof that the occupation forces have failed in the battlefield and in their attempt to force a surrender upon the resistance.”

“The war criminals in Tel Aviv wanted to prove to their racist society that they are ‘making progress’ and the way to do that is by shelling a historic neighbourhood in Gaza, Shujai’yya, crowded with civilians, full of people, displacing over 85,000 people, bombing and shelling children and families with tanks and warplanes, because they are unwilling and unable to confront the resistance in the battlefield, face to face. In other words, Israel is using Palestinian civilians as human shields for its cowardly army,” said Barakat.

“In the last 48 hours we have seen that the real heroes in the battlefield, the Palestinian fighters of the resistance who have fought heroically and went behind enemy lines to confront occupation soldiers, achieving true victories against the occupiers,” said Barakat.

Commenting on the brutality of the Shuja’iya Massacre, Barakat said, “These massacres only deepen the Israeli defeat. Let us remember that in 1967 ‘Israel’ occupied the West Bank, Gaza, Sinai and the Golan Heights in 6 days and now, for the past two weeks, the Israeli ‘mighty army’ could not advance into the strip 10 meters fighting the resistance on the ground. And as an alternative, it has conducted massive bombing of civilians, targeting children, family homes, schools, hospitals, centers for people with disabilities, elders, fishers’ boats, family farms, and massive and random shelling of entire civilian neighborhoods.”

We have no doubt that Israel’s technical military capabilities are higher than the Palestinian technical capabilities, just as in the case of every colonizer who possesses massive military power and deploys a killing machine against an oppressed people struggling to live. However, in the confrontation on the battlefield, there is the truth – there are more Israeli soldiers killed and wounded than Palestinian resistance fighters. And so the cowardly colonial army of occupation targets families and civilian neighborhoods for massacres.”

Comrade Barakat said that the unity that the Palestinian resistance is exhibiting has never before been witnessed to this extent, and that “what makes the resistance stronger and more unified is the Palestinian people’s embrace of the resistance on a mass popular level. Our people in Gaza are the shell that protect the resistance and make it stronger and this popular support is the main principle and assurance of the victory to come.”

Barakat said that “there is no doubt that this battle is going to be deeply costly in human terms because of the brutality of the occupier, but the resistance will emerge from this battle stronger and more experienced, just like they did in 2008-9 and in 2012. After each battle, the resistance emerges stronger in its abilities, weapons, tactics, experience and qualitative achievements.”