Fatah loyalists: Gaza op is 'Allah's revenge' for Hamas actions

"Anyone who comes out against Hamas - will die," said A., a resident of the Jabalya refugee camp in Gaza, and the father of nine."Many people blame Hamas for the recent deterioration, but they are afraid to say anything," he said. A. sits at home most of the day: "I put my children in the center of the house,and my wife, brothers and I sit in another room.We have no electricity, and there is also no water.The children start crying every time they hear the planes or helicopters overhead, and definitely when there are explosions. "All we can do is hug them and calm them. They are afraid to go to the bathroom and the little ones wet themselves every once in a while," he explained. A. is not considered a supporter of any of the Palestinian factions, but his anger with Hamas is discernible in his voice: "Look, most Palestinians will not say anything bad about Hamas.They are afraid for their lives.No one here will try to make any trouble or rebel.Forget about it.We saw what they did to families that tried to contend with them,such as the Hilles or Dormush clans.They announced on their radio that if anyone 'harms security' - that means tries to challenge them - God will not have mercy on him. But in private conversations you hear the true criticism against them. "Mostly it comes from Fatah activists, such as those whose family members were killed during the Hamas revolution in Gaza. The are saying 'It is Allah's revenge on Hamas for killing our children.' But they also do not understand why Israel is avoiding attacking the Hamas leadership and is concentrating on its soldiers. Most of the senior [officials] of the military wing, Iz al-Din al-Qassam, and the political leadership have not even been scratched. In the meantime what we see are simple Hamas soldiers or women, children and innocent civilians being killed. You are not even trying to attack the senior [officials]." Yet A. does not hide his criticism of Israel. "Your operation is directed against the entire Palestinian people, not just against Hamas. See how many women and children were killed. The majority still blames Israel for the deterioration... What have you gained from the bombings? What is the benefit? You have not achieved anything, except that Hamas' standing in the Palestinian street, the Arab world and even the international community has strengthened." A. says the bombings are not in Israel's interest. "We, the citizens, only want to live, to eat, to drink, to earn a living, no more. We have no bread to feed our older children, and no milk for our younger ones. There is no school. We have electricity for an hour or two a day and then I sit with the children and watch television. And then when the blast comes they start to cry again. We have nowhere to go to, there is nowhere to flee to. It is better to sit at home and wait to die. Now most of the public wants revenge, suicide attacks within Israel as soon as possible."
By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1051355.html
As in the days of Noah...