GAZA STRIP (Dispatches) – The Hamas resistance movement has denounced slammed four Arab countries for participating alongside the Zionist regime in a U.S.-led NATO war game.
In a statement released on Monday, Hamas said the move was a “betrayal” of the Palestinian cause against the occupying regime.
Such involvement is “a betrayal of the Palestinian nation and its just cause,” statement said, calling on the Arab states to immediately withdraw from the event and boycott any joint civil and military activities with the Zionist regime.
“We condemn the participation of Arab and Muslim countries in military maneuvers with the Zionist regime,” it added.
Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are among the 32 participants in the Sea Breeze 2021 naval drill in the Black Sea cohosted by the U.S. Navy’s Sixth Fleet and the Ukrainian Navy.
The occupying regime’s naval forces are also taking part in the annual maritime maneuver, which began on June 28 and will end on July 10. The involvement of over 5,000 troops, 32 vessels, 40 aircraft, and 18 diving and commando teams in the exercise makes it the largest since its launch in 1997.
The U.S. Navy said that the 12-day drill will include, among other things, “amphibious warfare, land maneuver warfare, diving operations, maritime interdiction operations, air drill, special operations integration, anti-submarine warfare, and search and rescue operations.”
“Partnership with the regime occupying the Palestinian territories not only legitimizes the existence of this regime, but also strengthens its evil plans to Judaize al-Quds, annex the [Palestinian] lands, displace the Palestinians from their homes and commit atrocities,” the resistance group said.
Hamas said that it is, instead, looking forward to seeing Muslim nations mobilize their forces and participate in military exercises in defense of the Palestinian nation against oppression and in preparation for the great battle for liberating Palestine.
In another development, Saudi-based TV channel Al Arabiya, removed a call made by Hamas chief abroad for the kingdom to release Palestinian prisoners from its jails, Arabi21 reported.
On Monday, Meshaal appeared on Al Arabiya for the first time in more than seven years. He said that his movement will not sever its relationship with any country in the region, “and we welcome a relationship with Saudi Arabia and any other country on the basis of Palestinian sovereignty.”
While speaking on air, he called for Saudi Arabia to release Palestinian prisoners, including the Hamas representative in the kingdom and his son.
However, the station removed the clip calling for the release of prisoners from the interview when it added it to its YouTube channel.