Saudi Arabian Grand Mufti calls Hamas a terrorist organisation, Israel cheers

Appearing on a television programme, Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, said that Hamas, a Palestine-based Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist organisation, is wrong in fighting against Israel.

Following the Grand Mufti's reaction, Israeli Communications Minister Ayoub Kara wrote on his official Twitter account, "We congratulate Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, as well as the head of Ulema for his fatwa forbidding the fight against the Jews and forbidding to kill them."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu too has claimed on Sunday that his country holds Hamas responsible for all attacks launched against them from the Gaza strip.

"We hold Hamas responsible for any attack against us launched or organized from the Gaza Strip," Netanyahu said.

He also warned those against attacking Israel and said any attack would be dealt with harshly.

Hamas in the past has been accused of carrying out attacks against Israel.

Meanwhile, two weeks ago, the Israeli government blew up an Islamic Jihad attack tunnel that had been dug into its territory at the southern border, Jerusalem Post reported.

Issuing a warning on Saturday, Maj.-Gen. Yoav Mordechai of Israel, who coordinates government activities in the territories, said, "We are aware of what the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza is plotting against Israel. It is playing with fire at the expense of the citizens of Gaza, the Palestinian reconciliation [between Fatah and Hamas] and of the region as a whole."

Responding to his threat, the Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian Islamist terrorist organization, said that it was a 'declaration of war'.

"We have the right to respond to any aggression, including the bombing of the tunnel," the organisation said.