Not only do they get slammed by a Palestinian human rights group that alleges Hamas shot and killed 10 members of Gaza’s Soprano-like Dagmoush / Dugmoush clan — including an 18 month-old toddler and a 16 year-old teen, but now Hamas is throwing a temper tantrum over Egypt’s continued mediation efforts over the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
The London-based Saudi newspaper Asharq Alawsat reports that Hamas is attempting to add a new condition to resume negotiations over Shalit, by insisting that Egypt release Palestinians arrested by Egyptian security forces in January following the Hamas-led collapse of Gaza’s border fence with Egypt near the Rafah crossing.
An unnamed Hamas pundit cried to the newspaper, “[i]t is unreasonable for Egypt to mediate between us and Israel so as to reach a prisoners’ swap deal while at the same time detaining our elements unjustly.”
Every country has the right to arrest and detain those who attempt to cross its borders illegally. Why should Egypt be treated any differently?
If there is any injustice, it is Hamas’ patently illegal ongoing role in the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit from inside Israel to Gaza, a role recently highlighted by British reporter Christine Toomey.
According to Asharq Alawsat, Hamas is so upset about Egypt’s role in mediating Shalit’s release, that some members of the terrorist group want to have European or Arab countries replace Egypt in the process.
But Egypt is an Arab country. Hamas’ foolish temper tantrum should fall on deaf ears.
