Palestinians express joy over Shimon Peres’ death

The Palestinians expressed happiness at the passing of former Israeli President Shimon Peres, saying he was a war criminal responsible for the Palestinians’ supposed calamities.

Hamas, the Palestinian terror group that rules the Gaza Strip, expressed happiness at Peres’ death on Wednesday.

A spokesman for the group, Sami Abu Zuhri, told The Associated Press “the Palestinian people are very happy at the passing of this criminal who caused their bloodshed.”

“Shimon Peres was the last remaining Israeli official who founded the occupation, and his death is the end of a phase in the history of this occupation and the beginning of a new phase of weakness,” he added.

Hamas’ news site reported at length on Peres’ death, but oddly concluded the report by saying that “despite the fact that he was one of the builders of the settlements, he became one of the outspoken peace seekers and spoke repeatedly about the need for concessions,” made to the Palestinians.

Hamas is sworn to the destruction of Israel in its entirety as documented in its charter.

WAFA, the official Palestinian news agency, also expressed glee at Peres’ passing.

“Peres is responsible for the death of Palestinians and many crimes. He is one of the architects of the settlement movement in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and was responsible as prime minister for the killing of Palestinian refugees in South Lebanon during Operation Accountability,” in  1993, the Palestinian media body stated.

“Shimon Peres died without facing justice for his bloody crimes in Palestine and Lebanon. A tragedy for his victims, may they find peace,” prominent Palestinian-American academic and writer Ali Abunimah wrote on his Twitter account.

Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas only tweeted that Peres’ death was “a great loss to humanity and to peace in the region.”

Abbas’ diplomatic advisor Majdi al-Khalidi told The Jerusalem Post that Peres “was a man of peace, who worked with the Palestinian leadership to achieve peace agreements. He also participated alongside President Mahmoud Abbas and Pope Francis in praying for peace. His passing is certainly a great loss for humanity and the region.”

It is unclear if Abbas will join leaders from around the world who will convene in Jerusalem on Friday to attend Peres’ funeral.

By: World Israel News Staff
AP contributed to this report.