Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Maj. Gen. Kamil Abu-Rukon appealed to residents of the Gaza Strip through his Arabic-language “Al-Munaseq” Facebook page Aug. 26, explaining why Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered Israeli fuel supplies to the enclave cut by half. “Hostile warmongers, near and far, are dragging you down the path of violence and a loss of stability,” he warned. Abu-Rukon then listed the names of those seeking to foment war when it comes to Gaza: the Islamic Jihad and Iran. He did not name Hamas, but two photos were appended to the post — one showing Islamic Jihad leader Ziyad al-Nakhaleh embracing the head of the Iranian Supreme Security Council, Rear Adm. Ali Shamkhani, at a Dec. 30, 2018 meeting in Tehran. The other showed Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar covering his eyes with his hands.
The message was clear: The Islamic Jihad is acting on Iranian orders while Hamas is closing its eyes and allowing these “hostile elements” to drag Gaza into war. “Apparently, the factions in Gaza favor the interests of Iran over their own citizens,” Abu-Rukon added.
