Hatem Abdul Qader, PLC member and member in Fatah Higher Committee in the West Bank - This operation comes in harmony with international legitimacy which has not recognized the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian lands and considered that occupation and settlements are illegal acts and there are international laws that granted the people the right to resist the occupation. Therefore, I believe that the statements of Annan violate the international laws and the resolutions of the UN. Solana and Annan should have condemned the terrorism and siege against the Palestinian people. We affirm that the operation is a legitimate and natural right of the Palestinian people because it targeted soldiers who are occupying the Palestinian lands and the operation took place on occupied territories. The statements of Solana and Annan confirm one more time that the issue deals with implementing the US will more than defending the international legitimacy; we strongly condemn their statements and our people will continue their resistance.
Dr. Abdul Aziz Rantisi, Hamas leading figure in Gaza - The statements made by Solana and Annan reveal in a blatant manner the strong hostility in their hearts against our people and their just cause. At the time when our enemy declares that all the dead were soldiers, we hear those two figures make statements insisting to adopt a story that even contradicts with the Zionist story. This condemnation which is totally biased towards Zionism will not affect resistance and the Jihad program. We do not demand any apologies from them because their statements do not have any impact on the legitimate resistance of the Palestinian people and we do not give their statements any weight.
Ghassan al-Khatib, Palestinian Minister of Labor - We condemned those statements which were very hasty and which also took the Israeli fabricated story without even inspecting the truth of the story or validating it, which constitutes an extension to the nature of some criticizing European and American diplomats and reporters who base their comments on Israeli information and where in many cases the information proves to be wrong. We are astonished that such senior diplomats do not issue such strong statements of condemnation when Israel kills Palestinians, especially civilians. The international conduct and behavior could be and must be more constructive if the criticism is done in a balanced manner when civilians from both sides are targeted. No contacts were held with the Europeans on this issue which was discussed in the meeting of the leadership and there was criticism for such hasty statements.
Sheikh Abdallah al-Shami, Islamic Jihad leading figure in Gaza - It seems that the emotions of Annan and Solana side with the feelings and emotions of Jews only and that they have no feelings for the Palestinian people. Those who were killed in the operation were soldiers and settlers who occupied the land of our people. Their statements make us doubt their credibility. We will not accept their apologies even if they do apologize because this is not the first time that they condemn the resistance of our people in clear hypocrisy to appease the occupation.
Jamil Majdalawi, Politburo member of the PFLP - the resistance of our people against occupation in all forms is a legitimate right granted by the international norms and conventions and this resistance was exercised by all peoples who were under occupation. Moreover, what is strange about the imbalanced and unfair statements of Solana and Annan is that the Israelis themselves affirmed that the operation was against soldiers. This shows that the statements of Solana and Annan were not accurate and lack political and ethical credibility. Resisting occupation it all its forms and symbols is a legitimate right of our people who will continue to resist occupation. I do not advise to continue with such statements. Our people's right in resistance is legitimate. Resisting settlers and soldiers is also a legitimate right.
