PM tells Palestinians to 'remain steadfast'
In his first public address since Israel began its offensive into the Gaza Strip, Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniyeh today told followers at a mosque that the Palestinians would remain steadfast despite Israel’s arrest of eight Cabinet ministers.
Though Haniyeh did not directly address Israel’s demand that Palestinian militants hand over an abducted Israeli soldier, he implied that the government would not trade him for the Cabinet ministers and 56 other Hamas officials arrested yesterday.
“When they kidnapped the ministers they meant to hijack the government’s position, but we say no positions will be hijacked, no governments will fall,” he said.
In a defiant speech, Haniyeh also said that Israel’s offensive in Gaza was not only about rescuing the soldier, but was part of a plan to bring down the Hamas-led government.
“This total war is proof of a premeditated plan,” he said.
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