(Reuters) Nidal al-Mughrabi - Tens of thousands of supporters of the militant Islamic Jihad movement rallied in the streets of Gaza on Friday, chanting "Death to America" and "Death to Israel." Young men and boys wearing white T-shirts with a slogan in the shape of a rifle bore portraits of militants killed in combat, under the black flags of Islamic Jihad. Ramadan Shallah, the group's exiled chief in Damascus who is on a U.S. wanted list, sent a recorded message saying: "Israel must be wiped out of existence." Senior leaders of the ruling Hamas joined the gathering, with up to 100,000 attending. Hamas allowed the group to use city terrain it usually reserves exclusively for its own rallies, and Hamas forces provided security for the parade. Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya said, "There is only the choice of Jihad and nothing else."
2010-11-02 11:11:37Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive