Hamas celebrates Gaza pullout

[barb162]

Hamas celebrates Gaza pullout
New challenge for Abbas seen in show of force
By Sarah El Deeb, Associated Press | September 17, 2005

NEVE DEKALIM, Gaza Strip -- Thousands of masked Hamas gunmen marched in formation through abandoned Jewish settlements yesterday, firing in the air and trampling an Israeli flag in the Islamic militant group's largest military-style victory parade since the Gaza withdrawal.

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Ziad Abu Amr, a Palestinian lawmaker in Gaza who frequently mediates between Hamas and Fatah, said he believes the Hamas threat is exaggerated. He said the militant rallies are celebrations and not meant to defy Abbas.

But Shaker Shabat, a professor at the Al Quds Open University in Gaza, said Hamas is sending two clear messages.

''The first one addressed to the Palestinian people is that Hamas is the largest military power in Gaza and it played the biggest role in kicking the occupation out," he said. ''The second is to Abu Mazen that you have to think twice before trying to disarm Hamas," Shabat said, using Abbas's nickname.

© Copyright 2005 Globe Newspaper Company.
http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2005/09/17/hamas_celebrates_gaza_pullout/