Hamas militants fired over 80 rockets at Israel just a day after a landmark visit to Gaza by the Qatari emir who pledged USD 400 million for various projects in the Gaza Strip. Israeli officials have suggested the visit, the first by a head of state to the Hamas-ruled territory, emboldened the militant group. Peres commented on the emir’s visit during a meeting with the EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in Jerusalem.

 

Shimon Peres, Israeli President:

"Here comes in a king of Qatar, or Emir of Qatar, has a lot of money, god bless him, he gives money, god bless him, but if the money will buy arms and arms will be used as they are being used now - and right now as we are sitting, there are (m) millions of mothers and children in shelters, they are being bombed. Nobody in Europe, or in Asia or in America or elsewhere would agree, day after day, to see somebody, that after all we can overcome if we want, getting hundreds of missiles, day in and day night."

 

Earlier, the EU foreign policy chief expressed her deep concern about the rocket attacks that affected southern Israel on Wednesday. Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip fired dozens of rockets and mortar shells into southern Israel in the heaviest bombardment on the area in months, damaging multiple homes, injuring 5 people, two of whom are in critical condition.

 

Source: JN1