Haniyeh: America's economic turmoil is 'divine punishment'

Hamas leader says God is chastising the US for its support of the Gaza blockade, stresses that punishment will extend to US allies.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, AP
haniyeh finger 224 88 (photo credit: AP [file])
haniyeh finger 224 88
(photo credit: AP [file])
The current economic turmoil in the US is "divine punishment," Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Friday. During a sermon before Muslim prayers at a Gaza City mosque, Haniyeh said God was chastising America for its support of the Israeli-led blockade imposed on Gaza. Haniyeh said God's punishment would also extend to America's allies. Earlier Friday, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum was quoted as saying that the group would only decide whether to extend the Gaza cease-fire after consulting with all the Palestinian factions. Barhoum told the Palestinian Al-Ayyam newspaper that Hamas had not yet been asked to lengthen the six-month truce, which is set to expire in December. The group has said that it will only agree to a cease-fire extension if it is expanded to include the West Bank, and if the Rafah border crossing and the Israel-Gaza terminals are opened. The current economic turmoil in the US is "divine punishment," Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Friday. During a sermon before Muslim prayers at a Gaza City mosque, Haniyeh said God was chastising America for its support of the Israeli-led blockade imposed on Gaza. Haniyeh said God's punishment would also extend to America's allies. Earlier Friday, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum was quoted as saying that the group would only decide whether to extend the Gaza cease-fire after consulting with all the Palestinian factions. Barhoum told the Palestinian Al-Ayyam newspaper that Hamas had not yet been asked to lengthen the six-month truce, which is set to expire in December. The group has said that it will only agree to a cease-fire extension if it is expanded to include the West Bank, and if the Rafah border crossing and the Israel-Gaza terminals are opened. The current economic turmoil in the US is "divine punishment," Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Friday. During a sermon before Muslim prayers at a Gaza City mosque, Haniyeh said God was chastising America for its support of the Israeli-led blockade imposed on Gaza. Haniyeh said God's punishment would also extend to America's allies. Earlier Friday, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum was quoted as saying that the group would only decide whether to extend the Gaza cease-fire after consulting with all the Palestinian factions. Barhoum told the Palestinian Al-Ayyam newspaper that Hamas had not yet been asked to lengthen the six-month truce, which is set to expire in December. The group has said that it will only agree to a cease-fire extension if it is expanded to include the West Bank, and if the Rafah border crossing and the Israel-Gaza terminals are opened. The current economic turmoil in the US is "divine punishment," Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Friday. During a sermon before Muslim prayers at a Gaza City mosque, Haniyeh said God was chastising America for its support of the Israeli-led blockade imposed on Gaza. Haniyeh said God's punishment would also extend to America's allies. Earlier Friday, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum was quoted as saying that the group would only decide whether to extend the Gaza cease-fire after consulting with all the Palestinian factions. Barhoum told the Palestinian Al-Ayyam newspaper that Hamas had not yet been asked to lengthen the six-month truce, which is set to expire in December. The group has said that it will only agree to a cease-fire extension if it is expanded to include the West Bank, and if the Rafah border crossing and the Israel-Gaza terminals are opened.