Hamas Accuses Israel of Poisoning Arafat

"Seven years ago, when I was the victim of a similar poisoning operation, the doctors were unable to find any proof in my blood. But at the time, Israel was forced to hand over the antidote because we were holding two Mossad agents," he said.

Two Israeli intelligence agents were arrested in Jordan in 1997 after trying to poison the Hamas politburo leader.

The Israeli government then provided antidote and released a number of Hamas members held in Israeli jails in return for freeing its arrested agents.

Palestinian sources told IslamOnline.net on Thursday, November 4, that Arafat had been slowly yet fatally poisoned before being taken to a French hospital.

Ashraf Al-Kurdi, Arafat’s long-time doctor, had earlier said that poisoning could be the reason behind the disorder of the blood platelets of the Palestinian leader.

Israel had repeatedly threatened to kill Arafat, who escaped 13 assassination attempts, including three poisoning attempts, according to the Palestinian sources.

Israeli Industry Minister Ehud Olmert said on September 14, that Killing Arafat is an option.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon threatened the same day to expel Arafat from the occupied Palestinian territories.

Killing Peace

Mashaal accused Israeli of killing stone dead all hopes of peace by killing the veteran Palestinian leader.

"Israel killed Yasser Arafat… By killing Arafat today, Israel has killed the peace process. It has killed the one who created with it this process," he said.

"This is perhaps a message to the Palestinians and Arabs to tell them that this will be the fate of whoever refuses Israeli imposed solutions," Mashaal said.

Hamas vowed to continue resistance against the Israeli occupation till liberating the occupied Palestinian lands.

"The death of the great leader would enhance our determination to continue struggle and resistance against the Zionist enemy till achieving victory and liberation," said a Hamas statement.