Hamas offers condolences to father of slain Jordanian pilot

Ismail Haniyeh says he hopes ‘the blood of the Arab nation will be dedicated to’ liberating West Bank, Jerusalem

Top Hamas official Ismail Haniyeh phoned the father of the Jordanian pilot burned to death by the Islamic State to express his condolences, Israel Radio reported Sunday.

Haniyeh told the father of Muaz Kasasbeh he hoped “the blood of the Arab nation will be dedicated to the primary operation against the occupation and for Jerusalem.”

The Gaza terror group denounced the killing of the pilot after the jihadist group released a video online last week showing its militants burning alive Kasasbeh, who was captured when his F-16 fighter jet went down during a mission over Syria.

The call underscored the deep divide between the Islamist groups, despite claims by Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu that Hamas and Islamic State are the same thing.

Jordan, meanwhile, stepped up its campaign against the Islamic State, and vowed to “eradicate” the jihadist group.

A Jordanian minister said Saturday the killing was a “turning point” in the kingdom’s fight against the jihadists.

Amman said its warplanes launched dozens of strikes on Thursday against the Sunni Muslim extremist group after threatening a harsh response to the murder of the pilot.

IS said the strikes near its self-proclaimed capital of Raqqa killed US aid worker Kayla Jean Mueller, who was kidnapped in August 2013, but the United States said there was no proof to support the claim.

This still image made from a video released by Islamic State group militants and posted on the website of the SITE Intelligence Group on February 3, 2015, purportedly shows Jordanian pilot Lt. Mu'ath al-Kaseasbeh standing in a cage just before being burned to death by his captors. (photo credit: AP/SITE Intelligence Group) — This still image made from a video released by Islamic State group militants and posted on the website of the SITE Intelligence Group on February 3, 2015, purportedly shows Jordanian pilot Lt. Mu’ath al-Kaseasbeh standing in a cage just before being burned to death by his captors. (photo credit: AP/SITE Intelligence Group)

Majali said the Jordanian airstrikes that destroyed the “terrorist” group’s facilities, arms depots and training centers on Thursday were the start of a campaign to “wipe them out completely.”

“The state of Jordan is entitled to retaliate against this terrorist organization, and we will pursue it wherever it is,” he told al-Rai.

“History shows that Jordan never forgets to avenge (such attacks), no matter how long it takes… we have the resources to deal with this.

“The day of the hero, martyr pilot’s assassination is a turning point in Jordan’s history in order to face this horrific crime that was committed by the cowardly terrorist organization,” said the minister.