Thousands in Ain al-Hilweh demonstrate against Jewish extremists

Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon witnessed a wave of anger and demonstrations Sunday, as Jewish ultranationalists attempted a march to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinians in the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp joined a massive "Defending Al-Aqsa Mosque" demonstration organized by the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas, in order to call for Palestinians' right of return and to denounce the Israeli invasion.

Several Palestinian and Islamic factions participated in the demonstration, including the Fatah Movement.

Demonstrators toured the main streets of Ain al-Hilweh carrying Palestinian and Islamic flags and pictures of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the assassinated founder of Hamas, calling for revolution and suicide attacks.

The crowd chanted: "We want martyrdom ... We want revolution."

Hamas representative in Lebanon Osama Hamdan delivered a speech at the rally in which he said: "The Jewish people have no other solution than leaving our occupied land. Otherwise our battle will continue."

He added: "Our people are ready to defend Al-Aqsa Mosque, which we consider as a 'red line' that cannot be passed," warning of potential suicide bombings if the mosque was breached.

Hamdan also commented on the situation of the Palestinians in Lebanon, saying that the refugees were adamant regarding their right of return to their homeland and refused settlement and UN Security Council Resolution 1559.

Meanwhile, Senior Shiite cleric Sayyed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah urged all Muslims and Arabs on Sunday to exert all efforts to defend Al-Aqsa and the Palestinian cause.

In a statement, the country's leading Shiite cleric said: "The Jewish extremists are deriving their monstrous acts from the U.S. political strategy."

He added: "We don't find it strange that the attempts to violate Al-Aqsa Mosque coincided with the visit of (Israeli Prime Minister) Ariel Sharon to the United States."

Fadlallah further urged Muslims and Arabs to promote unity in defense of "a plan" set up by Sharon and U.S. President George W. Bush.