Arab, Muslim nations urged to lend a hand

Riyadh: Most Palestinians working in Saudi Arabia said the cash-strapped Hamas government will not be left alone in its march towards establishing an independent state.

They urged the Muslim Ummah to lend a helping hand to Palestinians, who are reeling under Israeli oppression and blockade of financial aid from many western countries.

The Palestinians, they said, will not be hit by the economic siege if the Arab and Muslim world come forward and fulfil their financial pledges.

It will also be a recognition of the newly-elected Hamas government and a stamp of approval on the Palestinian aspiration of creating an independent state, they added.

Abdul Raheem Gamoos, director general of the Saudi offices of the Popular Committee for Supporting the Palestinian Fighters in the kingdom, told Gulf News that people of Palestine have elected Hamas to lead their government because of its capabilities to represent them in the right manner.

He praised the people and government of Saudi Arabia for their unwavering support to the Palestinians in their hour of need.

"We appreciate the sustained and excellent support of Saudi Arabia to our just cause ... They are staunch advocates of our cause at the regional and international forums besides extending support in cash and kind," he said.

Mustafa Shihab, a Palestinian journalist working in Riyadh, urged the Arab world to come forward with more help for their brethren in the occupied territories.

"The Arab and Muslim support is the sole hope for the Palestinians, after the suspension of aid by the US and EU.

"This will strengthen the position of the Hamas government in realising its declared objective of achieving some sort of self-reliance for enabling it to take strong political decisions," he said.

A number of Saudi academics and political analysts urged the Arab and Muslim world, especially Saudi Arabia, to stand firmly by the Palestinians to confront the severe challenges, saying it is the "duty" of the Arab and Muslim world to extend unflinching support to the Hamas government.

In a statement to Gulf News, Abdullah Al Dosary, a leading Saudi political analyst, urged the US and EU to reconsider their decision to halt economic aid to the Palestinian National Authority.

"The suspension of aid seems to be a collective punishment for the people who have been deprived of the simplest national and human rights under the Israeli occupation," he said, commending Saudi Arabia's continuous support for the Palestinians.

Nawaf Al Mutairi, a Saudi writer, also called for rushing aid and extending moral support for Palestinians who are passing through severe economic crisis.

He also noted that the Saudi people and charity organisations are providing an annual aid worth $150 million (about Dh552 million) to support the social and economic projects in Palestine.