(Haaretz)Jihad militants hold 'celebrations of triumph' parade over pullout
By DPA
Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad arranged a midnight procession before dawn on Monday to celebrate the beginning of the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza Strip and northern West Bank.
Palestinian witnesses said that dozens of masked gunmen joined the procession to express joy at the beginning of the withdrawal, which will last for several weeks.
The procession under the theme "celebrations of triumph" began at Palestine Square in downtown Gaza City and took to the streets as militants in jeeps drove all around the city.
The procession reached the square of the unknown soldier in Gaza City as militants waved weapons including rifles and homemade missiles and fired into the air.
Marchers shouted that the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation was an achievement of Palestinian armed attacks. Several militants kneeled on the ground to express thanks for what they called "the victory that our people achieved throughout their sacrifices."
Abu Mohamed, one of the group's armed commanders, told reporters that the procession was part of the Palestinian and Islamic Jihad celebrations for the Israeli withdrawal and evacuation of settlements.
"The withdrawal of the enemy from part of our occupied territories is a big defeat to the Zionist enemy that is withdrawing under the strikes of Palestinian militant groups," said Abu Mohamed.
He said that his fighters "would never drop their arms unless the occupation ends in all the occupied Palestinian territories".
"We will continue armed resistance until the liberation of all the occupied territories," he said.
I feel a deep sense of sadness, even unto tears, for the people of Israel tonight.