GAZA, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The politburo chief of Islamic Hamas movement Ismail Haniyeh denied Friday reports that Egypt had exerted pressure on his movement to stop the rallies called the "Great March of Return" in the Gaza Strip.
Haniyeh's remarks were made before hundreds of worshipers during Friday prayers at one of the main mosques in Gaza. The rallies and protests had been organized in eastern Gaza Strip close to the border with Israel since March 30.
"Egypt has never sent us threatening messages, and during our last visit to Cairo, we held with the Egyptian officials in-depth consultations on the general situation, mainly the siege, the march of return and the Palestinian unity," Haniyeh said.
He said that Israel has spread rumors "to influence the march of return and blind eyes to the massacre committed against our people," which has killed 111 Palestinians and wounded 12,000 others since March 30.
"These untrue rumors included that Israel has conveyed to Hamas leadership a threatening message through Egypt that if the march continues and if the crowds continue, Israel will assassinate Hamas leadership," said Haniyeh, adding that "we didn't receive these messages and it will never frighten us."
On Friday, the National Commission of the Great March of Return called on Gaza people to gather on the eighth Friday in eastern Gaza Strip to commemorate the victims killed and wounded over the past seven weeks. Enditem
