Noah Rothman:
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri is not helping advance his organization’s cause.
Zuhri became the focus of criticism when a clip of him advocating for civilians to act as human shields in order to protect Hamas militants and assets exploded on the internet. A MEMRI TV translation of Zuhri’s appearance on Hamas’ Al-Aqsa TV showed him talking up the “character” of Palestinians who “defend their rights and their homes with their bare chests and their blood.”
“We in Hamas call upon our people to adopt this policy in order to protect the Palestinian homes,” Zuhri advocated.
On Sunday, Zuhri was caught in yet another public relations faux pas.
“This is something that people should hear,” Zuhri told his Palestinian audience (Arabic translation via MEMRI TV).
“We aren’t leading our people today to destruction,” he added. “We are leading our people to death.”
Zuhri appeared to recognize the impropriety of his statement “I mean, to confrontation with this occupier,” he corrected himself.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/LWISvih1HAw[/youtube]
That little slip sure puts Palestinian Liberation Organization legal advisor Diana Buttu, who recently said it was “racist” to suggest the Palestinian territories cultivate a “culture of death,” in a difficult position.
Zuhri’s assertion, that Hamas is leading the people of the Gaza strip to death, sure does seem to be an accurate one, however. Last Wednesday, the terrorist organization released a list of new demands which would lead to a cessation of hostilities – all of which are non-starters for both the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.
Israel leaflets and phones all targeted areas to warn them to evacuate.
Hamas tells them to stay and die.
A Hamas leader forced 17 other people to his own roof in hopes of saving his home.
The IDF had warned they were going to flatten the house and they did.
The Hamas leader and 17 other people (some children) all died.
So, whose fault is that?
Now IDF even drops a non-exploding ”knock-knock” bomb onto the roof and gives people 5 minutes to get out.
Then the place is flattened.