Islamic Jihads Secretary General Ramadan Shallah, in a statement released on Saturday, called on all factions of the resistance and military wings, particularly the al-Quds Brigades, to escalate resistance and to respond to this heinous crime.
Addressing the family of the slain 18-month-old Palestinian boy Ali Saad Dawabsheh, Shallah added, With a heavy heart we received the news of the tragedy that the settlers committed against your family, the Palestinian people, and humanity, especially because the victim was a small innocent baby.
This crime revealed the truth of the hatred and savagery of the Zionist settlers against the Palestinian people, he pointed out.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"]
Palestinians look at the damage after a house was set on fire by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank town of Duma on July 31, 2015. AFP[/caption]Shallah added thatIsraels constant attempts to erase the Palestinian identity of the occupied territories should motivate Palestinians to act as one, and fight to protect their land and people.
On Friday, a large firebroke outaftersettlers threw firebombs and Molotov cocktails into two Palestinian houses in the town of Duma, located 25 kilometers (15 miles) southeast of Nablus. A Palestinian infant burned to death as a result.
The parents of Ali Saad Dawabsheh and his four-year-old brother were also injured in the attack.
According to local residents accounts, the parents woke up and tried to removetheir children fromthe house, but were unable to save their youngest son.The other torchedhouse was empty at the time.
Meanwhile, reports say Ali Saads mother, Riham Dawabsha, is suffering from burns on over 90 percent of her body, and is said to be in critical condition. The slain babys 4-year-old brother, Ahmad, has also been badly burned in the incident, and is receiving treatment in hospital.
The familys relatives say they hold the authorities in Tel Aviv responsiblefor the deadly arson attack, warning that dire consequences await the regime should Riham succumb to her wounds.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"]
Relatives carry the body of 18-month-old Palestinian toddler Ali Saad Dawabsha, who died after his house was set on fire by Israeli settlers, during his funeral in the occupied West Bank town of Duma on July 31, 2015. AFP[/caption]Media reports indicate that Hebrew graffiti was found near the arson scene, reading revengeand long live the Messiah.The settlers alsowrote price tag and drew a Star of David on the walls of the Palestinian homes.
The incident sparked angry reactions from Palestinians, including political and resistance groups.
Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, which is based in the Gaza Strip, reacted to the act of infanticide by declaring that the Israeli soldiers and settlers would now be legitimate targets for resistance.
Hamas spokesman, Hussam Badran, said popular action was needed in response to the killing.
The PalestineLiberation Organization (PLO) also condemned the brutal assassination of the Palestinian infant, stressing that the regime in Tel Aviv bears full responsibility for the arson attack.
This is a direct consequence of decades of impunity given by the Israeli regime to the extremist settlers who have perpetrated acts of terrorism,said PLO official, Saeb Erekat, in the statement.
Israeli settlers have in recent years carried out various attacks including arson and graffiti on Palestinianproperty in the West Bank and al-Quds (Jerusalem) under the price tag slogan.
Price tag attacks are acts of vandalism and violence against Palestinians and their properties as well as Islamic holy sites.
By Press TV
