Commander of Fatah military wing in Gaza: "The rifle was not thrown away and will not be thrown away!"
Video published on YouTube on July 2, 2016
Speech of Commander of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades’ Al-Amoudi Division in the Gaza Strip Majdi Matar “Abu Ahmad” at a Ramadan fast-breaking feast
Commander of the Al-Aqsa Brigades’ Al-Amoudi Division Majdi Matar “Abu Ahmad”: “When the Al-Aqsa [Martyrs’] Brigades were established [it was done] together with the eternal Martyr Commander Yasser Arafat. This father and commander had a very large part in the establishment, support, and moral guidance of this pure framework. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades did indeed constitute a direct heir of the Al-Asifa forces, Black Panthers, and Fatah Hawks. Most [of the people] who made up the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades were wanted in the Fatah Hawks. This pure body, when its cells and leaders decided that this body would be the backbone of the Fatah Movement and that it would pull out the rifle, it had a say from the beginning...
Even the first woman to achieve Martyrdom (Shahada) was [from the ranks of Fatah], Wafa Idris (i.e., suicide bomber who killed 1, wounded 100)… Symbolic Martyr Yasser Arafat would not sleep at night before hearing that the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades’ fingerprints were on the killing settlers…
Our wounded and Martyrs in the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, when we lifted and pulled out the rifle, we were completely convinced that the rifle was not thrown away and would never be thrown away.These cells were established from the beginning of the Al-Aqsa Intifada (i.e., PA terror campaign 2000-2005) and the battlefield was their witness: the member, the friend, and the enemy. These are the brigades and all the heroes and revolutionaries of our people were with them. The giant movement Fatah adopted the pure body to its bosom with all its glory and pride.When the movement leadership said ‘Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades’ it held its head up to the heavens because the rifle of the brigades is pure…”
Abu Ahmad then talks about the rift between Hamas and Fatah and wishes for its end.
Abu Ahmad: “In the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades we still promise the Martyrs that we will fulfill their will and the rifle will remain [aimed at] the occupation (i.e., Israel) alone,and will only be aimed at the chest of the occupation. This is the promise to the Martyrs…
You are its (i.e., Fatah’s) hands, you are the ones carrying its idea and the truth of its path and its faith, the liberation of Palestine, all of the land of Palestine…
And in conclusion I will say a simple sentence, which everyone will know:The rifle was not thrown away and will not be thrown away! This is our slogan in the next stage. The rifle was not thrown away and will not be thrown away!”
The picture shows Commander of the Al-Aqsa Brigades’ Al-Amoudi Division Majdi Matar “Abu Ahmad” giving his speech.