Hamas Labeled A 'Terrorist Organization' By Egyptian Court

CNN: Egyptian court designates Hamas as a terror organization, state media says

Cairo (CNN)An Egyptian court has ruled that Hamas is a terrorist organization, according to an Egyptian state-run media organization.

Hamas, the Islamist group which dominates the Gaza strip, has been at odds with the Egyptian government since the country's former President, Mohammed Morsy, was ousted in a coup in the summer of 2013.

Morsy was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist political organization that shares deep ties with Hamas. The government formed after Morsy's ouster designated the Brotherhood as a terrorist group in December 2013; since then, many of its leaders have been charged with supporting terrorism.

Hamas quickly denounced the decision at a news conference.

WNU Editor: Further signs that Egypt believes that Hamas is behind the growing instability and violence in the Sinai.

More News on An Egyptian Court labeling Hamas A Terrorist Organization

Egyptian court declares Hamas a 'terrorist organization' -- AP
Egyptian Court Rules Hamas a Terrorist Organization -- VOA
Egyptian court: Hamas a terrorist organization -- UPI
Hamas says Egypt listing it as terrorist organization is 'shocking and dangerous' -- Reuters
Egypt Listing Hamas as Terrorist Organization ‘Shocking, Dangerous’ – Hamas -- Sputnik

Hamas Spokesman Warns That If They Do Not Get Money They Will Then Become Terrorists

Not extremists (Reuters)

Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic: Hamas Warns: Give Us Money Or We'll Become Terrorists

WNU Editor: "Give us money or else" .... not exactly my preferred way of asking international donors to give me assistance ... but it appears that for some in Hamas this makes perfect sense. But it looks like funding problems are becoming a bigger problem for Hamas than what is being reported .... Report: Hamas Desperate to Renew Talks With Israel After PA, UN Funding Slows (Algemeiner).

My prediction .... after last years war everyone is reluctant to give Hamas any money. After-all .... money provided in the past was used in building tunnel systems and weapons .... so why provide more? And as to yesterdays' Hamas rocket test .... Hamas Conducts Large-Scale Rocket Test (Arutz Sheva) .... you cannot help but feel that Hamas is only getting ready for the next war.

Hamas Leader Calls On Obama To Stop 'Holocaust' In Gaza

In Personal Plea, Top Hamas Leader Calls On Obama To Stop 'Holocaust' In Gaza -- Michael Isikoff, Yahoo News

Meshaal compares Israeli prime minister to Hitler, criticizes Hillary Clinton in Yahoo News exclusive

The political chief of Hamas has called on President Barack Obama to intervene with the Israeli government to "lift the siege" of Gaza and push for a cease-fire in the conflict to stop a "holocaust" against the Palestinians.

"You as the leader of the most powerful state in the world, I ask you to call [on] Israel to stop its aggression on Gaza — and to lift the siege and open the cross borders and to rebuild Gaza," said Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal, in an exclusive interview with Yahoo News. "This is our demands."

The direct appeal to the president was made — in English — at the end of a wide-ranging hourlong interview, conducted under tight security at a gated Hamas media office in Doha, Qatar. It came amid a new round of violence in the Gaza conflict, including the death of a 4-year-old Israeli child on a kibbutz from a Hamas rocket and the execution of 18 suspected Israeli collaborators by masked Hamas gunmen. On Saturday, Israeli aircraft demolished a 12-story apartment building, sending a huge fireball into the sky and wounding 22 people, including 11 children.

Read more ....

Update: CNN exclusive: Inside the mind of Hamas' political leader.

My Comment: He is looking for a way out.

Hamas' Army Is Stepping Out Of The Shadows

Secretive Army of Hamas Emerges From Shadows in Gaza -- Wall Street Journal

Conflict Has Brought Qassam Brigade, Guerrilla Army of Hamas, Into Battle Against Israel

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip—When the shrapnel-torn body of Ahmed Abu Thoraya returned to this city in the Gaza Strip, only one member of his family knew for sure he had been a fighter in Al Qassam Brigade, the armed wing of Hamas.

Mr. Abu Thoraya had given his brother, Mohammed, a short will before he left town on July 19. "He said 'I'm going somewhere,' " his brother recalled recently. "I knew that he may not come back."

The conflict in the Gaza Strip has brought the secretive guerrilla army of Hamas out of the shadows and into battle against Israel's military for only the second time. When the brigade's fighters are killed, Hamas street organizers eulogize them as heroes, posting images of them in fatigues and toting rockets. And families in the Gaza Strip are coming to terms with never-before-discussed identities of sons and neighbors.

Read more ....

My Comment: Everyone knew that Hamas had an army .... but it took a war to reveal who they are.

Report: Hamas Has Executed Dozens Of Tunnel Diggers

A tunnel entrance, within a civilian home, found by Golani soldiers in the northern Gaza Strip (photo credit: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit/ Flash 90)

Hamas Said To Have Executed Dozens Of Tunnel Diggers -- Times of Israel

Any excavator who was suspected of collaborating with Israel was killed, Israeli website reports

Hamas executed dozens of diggers responsible for its extensive tunnel system in past weeks, fearing the workers would reveal the site locations to Israel, a report on the Mako website’s army blog said.

There was no independent confirmation of the report (link here in Hebrew).

The tunnelers, many of whom constructed the tunnels over the course of months, would dig for 8-12 hours a day, and received a monthly wage of $150-$300, according to the blog.

Sources in Gaza told the website that Hamas took a series of precautions to prevent information from reaching Israel. The terror organization would reportedly blindfold the excavators en route to the sites and back, to prevent them from recognizing the locations. The tunnels were strictly supervised by Hamas members, and civilians were kept far from the sites.

Read more ....

More News On Reports That Hamas Has Executed Dozens Of It's Tunnel Diggers

Hamas Reportedly Executed Dozens of Tunnel Diggers -- Washington Free Beacon
Hamas Kills Own Terror-Tunnel Diggers to Protect Secrets -- Breaking Israeli News
Report: Tens of Terror-Tunnel Diggers Executed by Hamas -- Algemeiner
Report: Hamas Executed Dozens of Tunnel Diggers -- The Tower
Report: Hamas Executes Dozens of 'Terror Tunnel' Diggers -- Arutz Sheva

A Look At Hamas's Top Political Leader And The Man Who Heads Hamas’s Military Wing

CNN Exclusive: Inside The Mind Of Hamas' Political Leader -- Holly Yan, Steve Almasy, and Ali Younes, CNN

Doha, Qatar (CNN) -- As fighting rages between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza, Hamas' political leader, who lives in Qatar, sat down with CNN for an exclusive interview.

Khaled Meshaal, a 58-year-old former teacher, has had the role since 2004, after Hamas' then-leader, Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi, was killed in an Israeli airstrike.

Meshaal is known as Hamas' external deal-maker, raising money from supporters in the region.

He spoke with CNN's Nic Robertson. Here are highlights from CNN's translation of the interview.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The article on Mohammed Deif is here .... Mohammed Deif, the shadowy figure who heads Hamas’s military wing -- Washington Post

My Comment: What's my take .... I have trouble understanding on how do they think their strategy will be successful in the long run. As leaders of Hamas they must think strategically .... but what they are doing is a complete disaster .... vowing everyday that you will destroy Israel while the opposite is happening should be the red flag to them that maybe they better choose a different course of action. And while I do understand from their point of view that they need the financial support from patrons like Iraq and Qatar .... as leaders of  Gaza they have a greater duty to be responsible for the people that they supposedly rule over .... not pleasing other nations. Unfortunately .... as long as much of the Palestinian population supports this policy .... and no one provides a counter point of view .... this misery and hate and violence will only continue. And if I was a Palestinian, I would be making this point abundantly clear to them and everyone else everyday .... whether they like to hear it or not.

Life Under Hamas Is Not Easy For Many In Gaza

My Comment: This video was uploaded to LiveLeak on July22, 2014. I do not know if this was taken before the current Israeli-Hamas war or during the hostilities .... but it shows how brutal Hamas can be in enforcing their rule.

Hat Tip: To regular reader Plowman for this link.

Top Pentagon Intelligence Official: Destroying Hamas Will Only Bring Someone Worse

Defense Intelligence Agency director U.S. Army Lt. General Michael Flynn testifies before the House Intelligence Committee on ''Worldwide Threats'' in Washington February 4, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Gary Cameron

Destroy Hamas? Something Worse Would Follow: Pentagon Intel Chief -- Reuters

(Reuters) - A top Pentagon intelligence official warned on Saturday that the destruction of Hamas would only lead to something more dangerous taking its place, as he offered a grim portrait of a period of enduring regional conflict.

The remarks by Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, the outgoing head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, came as Israeli ministers signaled that a comprehensive deal to end the 20-day-old conflict in the Gaza Strip appeared remote.

At least 1,050 Gazans - mostly civilians - have been killed, and 42 Israeli soldiers and three civilians in Israel have died.

Flynn disparaged Hamas for exhausting finite resources and know-how to build tunnels that have helped them inflict record casualties on Israelis. Still, he suggested that destroying Hamas was not the answer.

Read more ....

My Comment: I guess Lieutenant General Michael Flynn follows this rule .... "better the Devil you know rather than the Devil that you do not know".

Hamas, Fatah In Secret Talks: Haniya Aide

Gaza City - The Hamas movement is holding secret talks with the rival Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a member of the dismissed Hamas government said Tuesday.

The discussions are aimed at resuming the general dialogue between the two movements which are entangled in a political stand-off, after Hamas beat Fatah in deadly Gaza street battles and assumed sole control of the Gaza Strip in mid-June.

More news ...
Additional news from Israel and her neighbours:
Terrorists Dupe Israelis On Weapons Deal -- WND
Israel And Hamas Resume Contacts Over Soldier -- Khaleej Times