Hamas denies attacking Israel

Islam Times reports from However, Israel has launched a strike in response to the attacks in Gaza strip, killing at least seven Palestinians.

Press TV interviews with Amjad Saltifi, a Human Rights Lawyer from London, to discuss the issue.

Press TV: Hamas, they have denied any involvements. They have said that they operate only within the occupied Palestine that Israel must wage another war on Gaza. Give us a reaction to how Hamas has reacted to what has occurred?

Saltifi: Well, to be honest, I mean the only reaction that came out from the Hamas movement or the government in Gaza is one of denial. They have disassociated themselves from this act of what Israel labels as terrorism. But in any event regardless of that, there is no nexus or evidence that has been adduced by Barak to justify launching an attack which is nothing less than a collective punishment to the civilian population in Gaza.

I mean Barak has to go much further than just to link according to his own wishes and conclusions this attack to either Hamas or any of the factions. Palestinian factions in Gaza is got to and is required to show us the evidence as to why he decided that this incident is linked and has been perpetrated by Palestinians from the Gaza strip or it has emanated as, if you like, if you want, if you die in operation it has emanated from the Gaza.

It really is not logical. It does not make sense but I think Israel stands to benefit on a number of fronts out of this. This is going to be used in the future to show that Israel again is the victim regardless of the Arab spring. The revolts in Egypt say they're going to argue that the government that is in Egypt currently or any future government is going to be a weak government is not going to provide security and secure borders for Israel. Indeed Israel has started fencing off its borders but I think they have not managed more than 400 kilometers, more to be carried out, or sorry that was 40 kilometers.

So there is that argument that Israel would benefit, we have to also understand that the Israeli population themselves have been for the last few weeks really sort of opposing lack of economical performance by the government. They have been demonstrating though much like in the Arab streets, there is that issue there is the internal issue and I think Barak and Netanyahu both take advantage of this to ease off the pressure, internal pressure from within Israel.

There is also the fact that this will ensure if it is linked to Hamas that Hamas will be kept in isolation and Abbas in his efforts or in Hamas and Fatah's, if you like efforts to reunite the Palestinians territories and reconcile the differences this is going to be used again by Israel to show that Abbas is associating with terrorists and accordingly he is not a good partner in peace.

So there are these issues one point not to forget like my friend has already mentioned that the 20th of September is so close by. I think to a logic extent Israel is cornered in that respect regardless of whether the Palestinians would obtain recognition for their statehood. That is a different issue but that would show the double hypocrisy with the standards, double standards of the international community if they are to report against. But for Israelis is going to show that this is a sort of state that we are going to have one of our borders and again you know, the famous if you like Zionist propaganda myth that they need secure borders and they cannot afford to have terrorists setting up a state next to the state of Israel.

So there is all sorts of arguments, all sorts of benefits but the main thing is really how could the Israelis link this up so quickly without any evidence to Hamas when Hamas has got extensive borders with the occupied territories or the historical Palestine- Israel to launch its attacks certainly there is more concentration of, if you like, military targets there and they are relatively at abundance for them to carry out their operations at a less cost of organization, logistics and this chances of success. So I really have my doubts as to logic behind this allegation and I think without it being substantiated it is yet again a very good example of how the state of Israel will never abide by the international law, will not take its issues to the security council and will just take the law to its one's hands.