A Palestinian looks at a billboard thanking Iran in Gaza City on November 27, 2012. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)
(TheBlaze/AP) — Residents of the Gaza Strip on Wednesday plastered large billboards in key locations thanking Iran for its help during the recent eight-day battle against Israel.
The posters reflected the strong ties between Iran and the Hamas and Islamic Jihad militant groups in Gaza. Israel considers Iran to be its most dangerous enemy, citing Iran’s support for the militants and its suspect nuclear program.
During the fighting, Gaza militants groups fired hundreds of rockets into Israel, including Iranian-made “Fajr” missiles reaching as far as Tel Aviv and the outskirts of Jerusalem.
Israel has long accused Iran of funneling weapons into the Gaza Strip, but only recently have the militant groups openly acknowledged the origins of their arsenal.
Palestinian school girls pass a billboard covered by national and Iranian flags with Arabic reads “thanks and gratitude to Iran”, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. (Photo: AP)
The posters, displayed at busy intersections throughout Gaza, show the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, surrounded by Iranian and Palestinian flags, two hands in a handshake with the words, “Thanks and Gratitude to Iran” in Arabic, Hebrew and Farsi.
The posters were not signed, and Hamas and Islamic Jihad representatives said their groups had nothing to do with them. But their prominent location, at busy intersections and next to a destroyed Hamas security compound, as well as the fact that they were not removed, indicates that the militants were involved in the effort. Hamas has ruled Gaza with a firm hand since overrunning the territory in 2007.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders have also publicly thanked Iran, and at least one member of the Iranian Parliament returned the sentiment.
Discussing the recent conflict, he said: “We are proud that our assistance was material and military in nature.”
“The Palestinian people do not need speeches and meetings, rather they are in need of a serious support. If countries want to be proud, they should provide military assistance to the Palestinian people,” he added.
Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev accused the Hamas leadership of putting its interests above those of the people of the Gaza Strip.
“I don’t think anyone should be surprised by the connection between Hamas and Iran, because they share the same extremists and hateful ideology,” he explained.
Israel launched the offensive in Gaza on Nov. 14 in response to months of intensifying Palestinian rocket fire. Israel launched roughly 1,500 airstrikes at Palestinian rocket launchers and storage sites, and militants continued to fire rockets until a cease-fire was declared on Nov. 21.
In eight days of fighting, more than 160 Palestinians were killed, according to Palestinian medical officials. Six Israelis were killed.
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Related:
- ‘Terrorist’ Breaks Into Israeli Mother’s House With a Knife and Pipe…And She Takes Him Down With Martial Arts
- Member of Iran’s Parliament: We Are ‘Proud’ to Supply Hamas With Rockets to Use Against Israel
- Hamas Broadcasts Another Violent, Anti-Israel Video: ‘Killing Jews Is Worship That Draws Us Close to Allah’
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wciappetta
Nov. 29, 2012 at 9:10amAmazing, Iran publicly denied involvement in the Israeli/ Gaza conflict, yet here it is in print. Not surprised they lied again… They’re just practicing their Islamic militancy I mean faith…. When will Israel stop resting on their laurels and take the required action?
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TexPat
Nov. 29, 2012 at 8:18amWhen will they erect one thanking the president for his assistance?
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wthtamfm
Nov. 29, 2012 at 4:27amIran will rot and burn in Hell like a grease fire. The Bible prophecies state that those who oppose Israel shall be consumed in a firestorm the likes the earth has never seen – YET.
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November29
Nov. 29, 2012 at 5:40amIf we don’t get a hold n Iran, the world will suffer greatly. Read fresh political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
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PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
Nov. 28, 2012 at 6:52pmThe caption of this article is NOT ACCURATE at all……Conflict was caused by attacking Israel.
More Accurate caption: Hamas Posts Signs Thanking Iran for Rockets Used to ATTACK Israel
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The_Jerk
Nov. 28, 2012 at 9:03pmIsrael attacks just about all of its neighbors. It is the most belligerent nation in the Middle East.
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universalphilos
Nov. 28, 2012 at 6:43pmTHE FUSE WAS LIT FROM FRANCE TO IRAN. AND WHEN IT REACHES ISRAEL IT MAY ENFLAME THE WORLD —
Ten days before the Israeli-Egyptian Peace Treaty was signed, this prophecy was spoken on March 16, 1979: “You cannot pay a blackmailer, for they shall only return for more. You cannot pay murderers to go away, for they shall only come back and slay more of you. The Palestinians shall bring havoc upon the earth. They now have the support of those that you would know as the international Nazi party. They now have the support of the Communist world….And many of these people, much as the Nazi party of Germany did spread itself upon the earth in blackness before and engulf innocent people to do their bidding, so this shall be once again, and it shall spread north, east, south, and west. The treason that shall take place in Israel shall light the fuse. It has already been lit from France to Iran. Now it spreads forth as a plague upon your earth….
“But as these things come forth, if you should prepare yourselves in a binding manner before the Lord, then those of the Lord’s children shall not wear the mark of the Beast, and their children’s children shall wear the mark of God. And that of the Christ child’s safety shall be assured, and the reign of the Lord shall be upon the earth.”
February 16, 1974: “Let the Eagle [USA] spread its wings and protect.”
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BzyT3fgGxb4-NDQ3NWM2N2YtNmYyZi00MzQzLWIyMDQtMmFhMmM2NDhiZDY1&authkey=CO7t_ZsK
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AvengerK
Nov. 28, 2012 at 5:06pmI would pay for a pay per view of an Israeli rocket obliterating that billboard with “L’Chaim” written on the rocket.
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mercenary4freedom
Nov. 28, 2012 at 5:42pmIsreal should blow any Iranian ship trying to smuggle arms to hamas clean out of the water. Same goes for any land transports. I don’t care what obozo or Bull Clinton wants.
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Dushman Kush
Nov. 28, 2012 at 4:11pmExpressions of Gratitude are to be expected. Our Leader knows that millions of Amerikans want him to arrange another $900,000,000 in aid to the Comrades of Hamas and $20,000,000,000 to the Esteemed Comrades of the Muslim Brotherhood. Only our Leader understands how complicated the world has become and how much the Imperialists, their toadies, and their sycophants must give back.
The_Jerk
Nov. 28, 2012 at 5:06pmFact is, we’ve given far more to Israel than we could ever give to Hamas or any brotherhood. America’s broke. Get out, and stay out of the cesspool. They’re all fricken nuts.
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Chromo200
Nov. 28, 2012 at 4:03pmTHis is news .. we all know this, just that Obama is not going to publicly admit to it. His goal is to destroy Israel.
CALLMEMSGT You can see the same on Interstate 80 in the rest rooms .. the muslims clean their feet in the sinks where others wash their hands and faces… No idea about general hygiene and respect of other people’s way of life. Pennsylvania Turnpike told me to respect other people religion and way of life and it would cost too much to install units to accommodate the muslims.
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ResistSocialism
Nov. 28, 2012 at 3:59pmThat’s sweet
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kalli
Nov. 28, 2012 at 3:54pmI bet the USA funded every billboard!
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qpwillie
Nov. 28, 2012 at 3:53pmI wonder if Obama is using taxpayer money to put those billboards up or if daddy Soros is footing the bill.
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barber2
Nov. 28, 2012 at 6:47pmMy money’s on Soros . He is a big media / communication / propaganda man . Spends a ton on media outlets. He is learned from the Goebbels’ model. Witness the current American MSM. All in the International Left’s pocket.
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CALLMEMSGT
Nov. 28, 2012 at 3:48pmNot that it has anything to do with this article but I spent a lot of time in an Arab country at a military base, “working” with an Arab counterparts. Every morning before sunrise the Arab would go into the bathroom and wash his hands in the toilet so he would have clean hands to handle his prayer rug. Couldn’t bring myself to explain western plumbing to him, to fun to watch.
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chips1
Nov. 28, 2012 at 3:36pmOnly 160 killed in 8 days? They are holding back. What’s the record? Hope they go for a record.
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doomytram
Nov. 28, 2012 at 3:33pmWouldn’t that be akin to Obozo putting up billboards in Philly and Cleavland saying Thanks for helping me to steal this election 2012 with my lies, corruption, deception, and buffoonery.
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Pork_Anvil
Nov. 28, 2012 at 3:32pmhaha, reminds me of those anti-obama billboards you see in fly-over country.
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M13
Nov. 28, 2012 at 3:49pmReminds me of the idiotic posts put up by pork anvil.
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RJJinGadsden
Nov. 28, 2012 at 3:59pmHi PORKY, I thought that it was damned nice of them to erect those fancy, colorful targets.
Fly over country? You said a lot about yourself with that statement. Know why I call you Porky? I heard it from somebody else that you like to **** pigs.
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progressiveslayer
Nov. 28, 2012 at 3:24pmCome on Israel get rid of your parasite infestation,you know they’re never going top stop so just exterminate all of them.Why you put up with those subhuman freaks is beyond me.
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Detroit paperboy
Nov. 28, 2012 at 3:22pmNuke them……….
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1911a1
Nov. 28, 2012 at 5:31pmI could roll wit dat fo shizzle :)
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chips1
Nov. 28, 2012 at 3:21pmIt’s hard to believe that Israel considers Iran as it’s biggest enemy. They know about Obama. The whole world knows about Obama.
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IndyGuy
Nov. 28, 2012 at 3:18pm“The bombing starts in 5 minutes”
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