Hezbollah flags snapped up
2006-07-17 19:22
Gaza - Support for Hezbollah has soared in Gaza in the wake of
Israel's offensive in Lebanon, launched after the group seized
two Israeli soldiers and killed eight in a cross-border raid.
For Gazans, it all looks very familiar as Israel nears the
fourth week of a major operation here - likewise ordered after
Palestinian militants abducted a soldier and killed two others.
"I am selling more Hezbollah and Lebanese flags than I ever
have," said Tareq Abu Dayya, one flag shop owner, adding that
buyers had snapped up thousands of flags since last week.
Sitting in his store, as large yellow Hezbollah flags flew
on an pole outside, Abu Dayya said Gazans of all stripes were
buying, but especially Palestinians who have relatives jailed in
Israel and who hope Hezbollah can arrange a prisoner swap.
Many now look to Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah
for inspiration.
Some Gazans said Nasrallah had stood with them when Arab
leaders had done little to stop an Israeli offensive that has
killed 90 people, nearly half of them civilians.
Israel has vigorously defended its actions in Gaza and
Lebanon.
'Bomb Tel Aviv'
"Nasrallah is a hero," said Mohsen Abdallah, 35, from Beit
Hanoun in northern Gaza, as medics picked up the body of an
18-year-old Palestinian killed by Israeli gunfire.
"We hope Nasrallah bombs Haifa, Jaffa and Tel Aviv. Let him
do what a billion Muslims cannot do."
At a pro-Lebanon rally by thousands of Gazans on Monday,
marchers carried hundreds of Hezbollah and Lebanese flags and
held large posters of Nasrallah aloft.
Protesters burnt US and
Israeli flags.
"Dear Nasrallah, bomb Tel Aviv," many chanted.
When they heard news of fresh Hezbollah rockets slamming
into the northern Israeli city of Haifa, they clapped, whistled,
and chanted Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest).
Gazans said Hezbollah's capture of the two soldiers had
sparked hopes that Israel would talk to Hezbollah, whom it has
negotiated with before through third parties on prisoner swaps.
Israel 'won't negotiate'
Israel has vowed not to negotiate the release of its
abducted soldiers and said the military offensives would not
stop until all its captives were freed and both Hezbollah and
Palestinian militants halted cross-border rocket fire.
"We urge the (Palestinian) factions to join hands with
Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah and make it one deal," said Umm Ibrahim,
whose son has been in an Israeli jail for 20 years for attacks
against the Jewish state.
- Reuters