Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Hamas says remarks about its possessing weapons is a mere 'fabrication' to mobilize world opinion against the movement ahead of the UN General Assembly's vote on a Gaza war crimes report.
Israeli Military Intelligence chief Major-General Amos Yadlin claimed earlier Tuesday that the movement possesses in its arsenal a rocket capable of reaching targets in Tel Aviv.
"This is a pre-emptive step by the Zionist enemy to influence international opinion ahead of the General Assembly's discussion of the Goldstone report," said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum on Tuesday.
"This crisis has pushed the Zionist enemy to create these kinds of fabrications", he added.
The remarks were made a day before the United Nations General Assembly convenes to discuss a report on Israeli war crimes during its December-January offensive against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The report prepared by former South African judge Richard Goldstone concluded that Israel used disproportionate force and failed to protect civilians during the 22 say war on Gaza.
Israel however urged the international community on Tuesday to oppose the report when it is put to vote on Wednesday.
"This report damages not only Israel but any peace-seeking democratic state that has to face terror," said Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon.
The UN Human Rights Council endorsed the report last month and the UN Security Council mentioned it during its monthly debate on the Middle East on October 13 without taking any action.
