Hamas: Military parades a message to Israel

The military wing of Islamic Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip said Sunday that its recent parades with new anti-aircraft missiles were "a message to Israel." "All Arab armies should have shown its strength and power to their common enemy," said Abu Obaida, spokesperson for the Ezz el- Deen al-Qassam Brigades, in reference to Israel. His remarks came a day after the brigades organized a military parade in Gaza City, showing Russian-made, shoulder-fired SA-7 missiles. The brigades' website said the anti-aircraft missiles were shown to public for the first time. The spokesperson denied Egyptian media reports that the recent frequent military marches were a message to Egypt. The relationship between Cairo and Hamas has strained since the Egyptian military overthrew Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in July. Hamas is an offshoot of the pan-Arab Muslim Brotherhood movement, which Morsi is a member of. Hamas took over Gaza by force in 2007 after routing troops loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose rule has been confined to the West Bank since then.