Islamic Jihad demands stronger resistance against Israel

Palestinian resistance movement, Islamic Jihad, has called on all factions to more actively pursue anti-Israel struggle in the wake of the recent arson attack by Israeli settlers which killed a Palestinian toddler in the occupied West Bank.

Islamic Jihad’s Secretary General Ramadan Shallah, in a statement released on Saturday, called on “all factions of the resistance and military wings, particularly the al-Quds Brigades, to escalate resistance and to respond to this heinous crime.”

Addressing the family of the slain 18-month-old Palestinian boy Ali Saad Dawabsheh, Shallah added, “With a heavy heart we received the news of the tragedy that the settlers committed against your family, the Palestinian people, and humanity, especially because the victim was a small innocent baby.”

“This crime revealed the truth of the hatred and savagery of the Zionist settlers against the Palestinian people,” he pointed out.

Shallah added that Israel’s constant attempts to “erase” the Palestinian identity of the occupied territories should motivate Palestinians to act as one, and fight to protect their land and people.

On Friday, a large fire broke out after settlers threw firebombs and Molotov cocktails into two Palestinian houses in the town of Duma, located 25 kilometers (15 miles) southeast of Nablus. A Palestinian infant burned to death as a result.

The parents of Ali Saad Dawabsheh and his four-year-old brother were also injured in the attack.

According to local residents’ accounts, the parents woke up and tried to remove their children from the house, but were unable to save their youngest son. The other torched house was empty at the time.

Meanwhile, reports say Ali Saad’s mother, Riham Dawabsha, is suffering from burns on over 90 percent of her body, and is said to be in critical condition. The slain baby’s 4-year-old brother, Ahmad, has also been badly burned in the incident, and is receiving treatment in hospital.

The family’s relatives say they hold the authorities in Tel Aviv responsible for the deadly arson attack, warning that dire consequences await the regime should Riham succumb to her wounds.

Media reports indicate that Hebrew graffiti was found near the arson scene, reading “revenge” and “long live the Messiah.” The settlers also wrote ‘price tag’ and drew a Star of David on the walls of the Palestinian homes. 

The incident sparked angry reactions from Palestinians, including political and resistance groups.

Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, which is based in the Gaza Strip, reacted to the act of infanticide by declaring that the Israeli soldiers and settlers would now be “legitimate targets for resistance.”

Hamas spokesman, Hussam Badran, said popular action was needed in response to the killing.

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) also condemned the “brutal assassination” of the Palestinian infant, stressing that the regime in Tel Aviv bears “full responsibility” for the arson attack.

“This is a direct consequence of decades of impunity given” by the Israeli regime to the extremist settlers who have perpetrated acts of terrorism, said PLO official, Saeb Erekat, in the statement.

Israeli settlers have in recent years carried out various attacks including arson and graffiti on Palestinian property in the West Bank and al-Quds (Jerusalem) under the “price tag” slogan.

Price tag attacks are acts of vandalism and violence against Palestinians and their properties as well as Islamic holy sites.

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