“We hail Algeria for her all-out support during Israel's military aggression on Gaza”, Hamas official.

A senior official of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas Moussa Abou Merzouk said during an exclusive interview with “Echorouk Al Yaoumi” in Doha, Qatar, that the Palestinian population in the Gaza strip and the Hamas leadership highly appreciated Algeria's unswerving support during the savage Zionist military aggression against Gaza.  

• During this encounter, our reporter in Doha handed over the Hamas official a copy number 2.500 of the newspaper “Echorouk Al Yaoumi” devoted exclusively to the aggression in Gaza.
• Abou Merzouk seized the opportunity to thank the Algerian news media for their total backing for the Palestinian resistance in the face of the barbaric Zionist onslaught.
• Q  : Martyrs are still being mowed down by the Zionist war machine but the resistance is still going on…
• –  Doctor Moussa Aboiu Merzouk : I should say that the relation between any people under occupation is legitimate resistance and an all-out siege is the worst form of collective punishment.
• I guess that the recently declared ceasefire is not on a long-term and the resistance to the brutal Zionist occupation would naturally be again the order of the day to ease the dire plight of our people.
• Q  :  So, the armed resistance will continue ?
• –  The ceasefire is confined to Gaza and the resistance is continuing in the West Bank and should be scaled up.
• The ceasefire is for a one-year period only.
• Q  :  What is Hamas’ stance towards the Egyptian brokered peace initiative ?
• –  Hamas is still studying Egypt’s plan regarding the conditions and the duration of the ceasefire with Israel but the door of dialogue with the Fateh movement is still shut for the time being especially after the aggression against Gaza.
• Q  :  Do you mean that the door of dialogue with Fateh is closed for good ?
• –  No, but Hamas is eager to ensure the unity of Palestinian ranks but we are facing impediments for the other side.
• We condition the resumption of intra-Palestinian reconciliation talks on the release by Fateh of all Hamas prisoners detained in the West Bank.
• Q  :  What about the fate of Hamas official Mahmoud Ezahar. Was he killed during the Zionist onslaught on Gaza as reported by some quarters ?
• –  I firmly deny such untoward reports and say that Doctor Ezzahar is safe and sound. Such mendacious reports were, in fact, part of the sweeping Zionist disinformation campaign during the Gaza aggression.
• Q  : Do you think that the current peace drive undertaken by the new mid-east envoy George S. Mitchell will achieve a breakthrough ?
• – The Michell mission has some positive aspects but he should meet with all the parties at issue including the resistance movement Hamas to fully grasp all the ins and outs of the situation and be even-handed in dealing with all parties at issue on an equal footing in order to come up with fair and tangible solutions.
• Q  :  How did the Gaza population perceive Algeria’s steadfast support for the brotherly Palestinians during the Zionist aggression ?
• –  The Palestinian people are very grateful for the unswerving support extended by the Algerian authorities and people who did not refrain in helping and assisting, through various diplomatic and humanitarian channels the oppressed Palestinian population of Gaza.
• The brotherly and valiant people of Algeria are known for their steadfast positions in favour of just causes and a  Hamas delegation will visit Algeria shortly to express heart-felt gratitude and thanks to the Algerian authorities and people for their all-out backing to the struggling Palestinian people.