Hamas held a mass rally in Rafah, in the Gaza Strip, on Sunday to mark the two year anniversary of its attack on Israel which led to Operation Protective Edge.
Along with celebrating two years since Operation Protective Edge, Hamas also commemorated Hamas commanders Mohammed Abu Shamala and Raed al-Attar killed during the operation.
Hundreds of terrorists from Hamas’ al-Qassam Brigades, its armed wing, displayed their rockets, Hamas’ naval commando unit, and holding cells they bragged were for “enemy prisoners.”
A Hamas spokesman, Abu Ubeida, threatened to treat future Israeli prisoners in the “same manner” that Israel treats Hamas terrorists held in Israeli prisons.
Hamas holds the remains of IDF soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin who were killed during Operation Protective Edge, as well as Avraham Mengistu and Juma Ibrahim Abu Anima, both of whom entered the Strip on their own in 2014 and have not been heard from since.
He boasted that despite Israel’s blockade on Gaza to prevent Hamas’ military buildup, it has managed to intensify its military capabilities and enlarge its army of terrorists in preparation for another assault on Israel.
“The enemy’s [Israel’s] policies have not prevented Hamas’ rearmament, which will not lay down its weapons until the liberation of the land and the people. If the enemy thinks that through a calm it has put down the uprising –he is wrong, because it is of utmost significance and we will respond to any trick,” Abu Ubeida threatened.
Hamas, which is sworn to Israel’s destruction, would continue its struggle against Israel until “victory is achieved,” he said.
The rally was held just hours after an organization linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) terror group fired rockets at Israel from Gaza.
This event was one of many held by Hamas to mark the attack on Israel and in apparent attempt by Hamas to boost its image in the eyes of the residents of Gaza, who suffer from poverty, heavy taxation by Hamas and an extremely high unemployment rate.
By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News