GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — During a meeting held July 10 in Lebanon by the Hamas leadership abroad, the movement said it decided to develop a plan to counter Israel's systematic targeting of the movement, expressing regret that Palestinian, Arab and Islamic parties are involved in such campaigns.

Hamas has been recently facing arrests, prosecutions, a financial siege, campaigns to dry up its sources, and organized and programmed media campaigns that have affected the movement at the political, diplomatic, media and financial levels.

Raafat Murra, head of the media department of Hamas abroad, told Al-Monitor that the Palestinian cause is facing a serious and systematic attack, as the main Palestinian issues, namely Jerusalem and the refugees, are being liquidated as a result of Israeli and US understandings that led to the US "deal of the century" and the Bahrain economic workshop.

He said the main reason Hamas is being targeted is its political and popular clout and its ability to confront Israel and the plots aimed at liquidating the Palestinian cause. Israel, he said, is targeting the movement abroad through several means and measures.