GAZA CITY Ñ Hamas has relayed its most specific warning against
Americans in the Middle East.
The Hamas threats have been announced in pro-Iraqi demonstrations
organized by the movement. The demonstrations were allowed by the
Palestinian Authority.
"If Iraq is attacked all American targets will be open targets for every
Muslim, Arab or Palestinian," Hamas spokesman Mahmoud Zahar said. "Any
attack against Iraq will be answered by resistance everywhere and American
interests everywhere will be targeted. We say that all American targets will
be open targets to every Muslim, Arab, or Palestinian."
Hamas leader Abdul Aziz Rentisi also warned Americans in the Middle East
that they could face attacks by supporters of the movement. He called on
Iraq to follow Hamas's example and organize an army of suicide bombers
against the U.S. military.
"There is no choice but to set up thousands of secretly operating
suicide cells with thousands of explosive belts equipped to cause meaningful
results", Rentisi said.
Over the weekend, thousands of Hamas members and other Palestinians held
a demonstration in support of President Saddam Hussein. The demonstrators
carried Iraqi flags and posters of Saddam in such cities as Gaza City and
the West Bank towns of Jenin and Tulkarm.
PA police were at some of the demonstrations. But they did not
intervene.
Pro-Iraqi demonstrations have been held regularly over the last month.
Most of the demonstrations have taken place in the Gaza Strip and the
northern West Bank city of Nablus.
The PA has hosted Iraqi Solidarity Week, sponsored by the Palestine
National Council. Fatah officials have called on Palestinians to participate
in the pro-Iraqi rallies.