"The Palestinian mother is a central partner in the struggle... It is she who gave birth to the fighters, and she deserves that we bow to her in salute and in honor."
Those were the words of the Palestinian Authority's Minister for Prisoners' Affairs, Issa Karake, when he honored a Palestinian woman by awarding her "the Shield of Resoluteness and Giving."
| The Minister of Prisoners' Affairs, Karake, honors mother of 4 terrorists with PA Shield. [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Aug. 28, 2010] |
The Minister also "praised the Abu Hamid family as a model of willpower and of the struggle for the independence of Palestine" when he visited the family with a ministry delegation, human rights organizations and released prisoners, the official PA daily newspaper reported.
The four sons are serving life sentences for the following crimes:
Nasser Abu Hamid- 7 life sentences + 50 years - commander in Fatah's military wing the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in Ramallah. Convicted of killing seven Israeli civilians and 12 attempted murders.
Nasr Abu Hamid - 5 life sentences - Member of terror faction of Fatah,Tanzim, and convicted of involvement in two terror attacks and arms dealing.
Sharif Abu Hamid- 4 life sentences - a member in one of the brothers' units carrying out terror attacks against civilians and soldiers. Accompanied a suicide bomber to his attack in March 2002.
Muhammad Abu Hamid - 2 life sentences + 30 years - involvement in terror attacks.
Nasr Abu Hamid - 5 life sentences - Member of terror faction of Fatah,Tanzim, and convicted of involvement in two terror attacks and arms dealing.
Sharif Abu Hamid- 4 life sentences - a member in one of the brothers' units carrying out terror attacks against civilians and soldiers. Accompanied a suicide bomber to his attack in March 2002.
Muhammad Abu Hamid - 2 life sentences + 30 years - involvement in terror attacks.
Minister Karake also chose this week to visit the home of the suicide terrorist Ayyat Al-Akhras who in 2002 entered a Jerusalem supermarket and detonated a bomb murdering two Israelis and killing herself. The minister's visit took place on the occasion of the Palestinian "National Day for Returning the Bodies of Palestinian and Arab Shahids and MIA's."
The mother who received the award for having four terrorist sons was described as "Khansa of Palestine," which is a reference to Al-Khansa, a woman from the earliest period of Islam who sent her four sons to battle and rejoiced when they all died as Martyrs. Calling the Palestinian mother by this name reinforces the message that seeking death as a Martyr is a worthy and honorable goal and that parents should proudly sacrifice their children.
Palestinian Media Watch has reported:
1- PA's glorification of terror and terrorists,
2- Palestinian parents who celebrate their children's death as Martyrs,
3- The PA's promotion of Martyrdom.
The following is an excerpt from the article about the PA Minister awarding the mother "the Shield of Resoluteness and Giving" in the official PA paper:
"Issa Karake, Minister of Prisoners' Affairs, awarded the Shield of Resoluteness and Giving to Khansa of Palestine [reference to a woman in the earliest period of Islam who sent her four sons to battle and rejoiced when they all died as Martyrs], Um Yousuf Abu Hamid, inscribed with the names of her four sons who are imprisoned in the Israeli occupation's prisons. He emphasized, 'The Palestinian mother is a central partner in the struggle, by virtue of what she has given and continues to give. It is she who gave birth to the fighters, and she deserves that we bow to her in salute and in honor.'
This [was said] during a visit yesterday by [Minister] Karake and a delegation from the Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs, human rights organizations, and released prisoners, to the home of the Abu Hamid family in the Al-Am'ari refugee camp. [Karake] joined the meal breaking the [Ramadan] fast with the mother of the four prisoners who were sentenced to several life terms, as well as a fifth Shahid (Martyr) who was caught and executed on the spot by the Israeli special forces, having killed an Israeli intelligence officer and having wounded soldiers. Karake praised the Abu Hamid family as a model of willpower and of the struggle for the independence of Palestine... It should be noted that the Abu Hamid family is one of the fighting families of Palestine... All of the family's younger generation have been arrested, and four sons are still in prison: Nasser Muhammad Yousuf Naji Abu Hamid, sentenced to seven life terms and another 50 years; Nasr Muhammad Yousuf Naji Abu Hamid, sentenced to five life terms; Sharif Muhammad Yousuf Naji Abu Hamid, sentenced to four life terms; and Muhammad Muhammad Yousuf Naji Abu Hamid, sentenced to two life terms and 30 years. This is in addition to their Martyr brother, Abd Al-Mun'im Muhammad Yousuf Naji Abu Hamid, who died as a Martyr on May 31st, 1994."
This [was said] during a visit yesterday by [Minister] Karake and a delegation from the Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs, human rights organizations, and released prisoners, to the home of the Abu Hamid family in the Al-Am'ari refugee camp. [Karake] joined the meal breaking the [Ramadan] fast with the mother of the four prisoners who were sentenced to several life terms, as well as a fifth Shahid (Martyr) who was caught and executed on the spot by the Israeli special forces, having killed an Israeli intelligence officer and having wounded soldiers. Karake praised the Abu Hamid family as a model of willpower and of the struggle for the independence of Palestine... It should be noted that the Abu Hamid family is one of the fighting families of Palestine... All of the family's younger generation have been arrested, and four sons are still in prison: Nasser Muhammad Yousuf Naji Abu Hamid, sentenced to seven life terms and another 50 years; Nasr Muhammad Yousuf Naji Abu Hamid, sentenced to five life terms; Sharif Muhammad Yousuf Naji Abu Hamid, sentenced to four life terms; and Muhammad Muhammad Yousuf Naji Abu Hamid, sentenced to two life terms and 30 years. This is in addition to their Martyr brother, Abd Al-Mun'im Muhammad Yousuf Naji Abu Hamid, who died as a Martyr on May 31st, 1994."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Aug. 28, 2010]
The following is the report on PA Minister Karake's visit to the suicide terrorist's home:
"Minister of Prisoners' Affairs, Issa Karake... visited the home of the Palestinian Shahida (Martyr) Ayyat Muhammad Lutfi Al-Akhras, who died a Martyrs' death on March 29th, 2004 [the correct date was March 29, 2002 when Ayyat Al-Akhras carried out a suicide terror attack in a Jerusalem supermarket, killing two Israelis, -Ed.], in the Dehaishe refugee camp. Her body is still being held in the numbered military cemetery [reference to Israeli cemetery for enemy casualties, -Ed.] within '48 occupied land. Karake's visit marked the National Day for Returning the Bodies of Palestinian and ArabShahids and MIA's... He [Karake] condemned the Israeli policy of punishing the dead along with the living, contrary to international agreements...
He said that 317 Shahids are still prisoners in the so-called numbered cemeteries and in cemeteries, lacking the minimum moral, religious and humanitarian foundations. Karake added that Israel is the only country in the world which imposes punishments on dead bodies and holds them, nameless, in cemeteries which are vulnerable to erosion in winter and to the gnawing of wild animals. Karake said that hiding the bodies of the Shahids is part of the Israeli government's evasion of responsibility and concealment of war crimes which were carried out against the Shahids, whether by field executions, abuse of their bodies, and trade or theft of their organs."
He said that 317 Shahids are still prisoners in the so-called numbered cemeteries and in cemeteries, lacking the minimum moral, religious and humanitarian foundations. Karake added that Israel is the only country in the world which imposes punishments on dead bodies and holds them, nameless, in cemeteries which are vulnerable to erosion in winter and to the gnawing of wild animals. Karake said that hiding the bodies of the Shahids is part of the Israeli government's evasion of responsibility and concealment of war crimes which were carried out against the Shahids, whether by field executions, abuse of their bodies, and trade or theft of their organs."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Aug. 30, 2010]
