Gaza militant groups emphasize neutrality on Egypt, Syria affairs

Several Palestinian armed groups, including that of the Hamas rulers in Gaza, on Friday emphasized their neutrality on the internal affairs of the Arab countries in reference of Egypt and Syria. A masked spokesman of Hamas' armed wing, al-Qassam Brigades, told a news conference in northern Gaza that the militants do not intend to intervene in the internal affairs of the Arab countries. "On behalf of all armed wings of resistance, we clearly and frankly declare that we are not intervening in the Arab countries' affairs and we are not involved in what is happening there," he said, surrounded by militants belong to other factions. Al-Qassam Brigades as well as the armed wings of the Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and other minor groups had earlier held a military parade in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. "We feel sorry for every drop of blood that is lost in any Arab country and we condemn any intervention in the affairs of any Arab or foreign country. This is our policy and it won't change," said the spokesman. Meanwhile, he warned Israel against any violation of the ceasefire agreement brokered by Egypt in November following an eight-day conflict that killed more than 170 people. The spokesman also expressed the militants' opposition to the resumption of the direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, stressing "we did not authorize anyone to talk on our behalf."