BICOM

Hamas yesterday declared its continued adherence to armed struggle and the destruction of Israel, in a mass rally to mark its 24th anniversary. Hamas prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh told the rally: “We affirm that armed resistance is our strategic option and the only way to liberate our land, from the [Mediterranean] sea to the River [Jordan]. God willing, Hamas will lead the people… to the uprising until we liberate Palestine, all of Palestine.”

Haniyeh asserted that Hamas would be a beneficiary of Arab uprisings that have heralded the rise of Islamist political groups, he declared: “No one inside or outside the Palestinian arena can bypass Hamas.”

The rally comes a few days before the second stage of the Shalit prisoner exchange deal, which is due to be implemented on Sunday. This morning, the Israel Prison Service has posted on its website the list of 550 security prisoners who are expected to be released in the second phase of the deal that freed IDF soldier Gilad Shalit from Hamas captivity in October. Those being released in the second stage are relatively low level security prisoners chosen by Israel. None are Hamas members. Many of them were jailed for hurling Molotov cocktails, pelting stones or shooting at IDF soldiers.