Hamas Distances Itself From Zawahiri, But Threatens "Covert and Visible Action" Against Western Nations Who "Hinder Our Resistance Actions"

By Evan Kohlmann

On December 4, the Izzadeen al-Qassam Brigades (the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement) published the transcript of an English-language question-and-answer session conducted over e-mail with one of its spokesman known as "Abu Obaida." During the public interview, Abu Obaida bluntly dismissed Al-Qaida Deputy Commander Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri's recent criticisms of Hamas as merely a "media" spectacle: "We do not tell Al-Dhawahry [Al-Zawahiri] what to do in Afghanistan since we are not aware of his situation...His judgments and opinions are his; but they are not correct. More importantly, we are not awaiting approval or blessing from anyone except Allah." Nonetheless, when asked why Hamas "stay[s] silent" and doesn't "punish" infidel regimes that support the Palestinian Authority over Hamas, Abu Obaida replied, "We are not in a war against non-Muslims or against Muslims who support parties that act against the resistance. However, we make it clear that we will defend our resistance project with all our strength. We will not allow any party to interfere or hinder our resistance action...We take actions, covert and visible."

A copy of the transcript is now available for download from the NEFA Foundation website. (http://nefafoundation.org/miscellaneous/FeaturedDocs/AbuObaida_QA.pdf)

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