Hamas, Thirty-Two Years Later

by Khaled Abu Toameh
December 18, 2019 at 5:00 am

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/15306/hamas-thirty-two-years-later

Translations of this item:

Now that Hamas has again – clearly – reminded the world that it has not changed and continues to seek the destruction of Israel, the question is: Why are some world leaders, governments and organizations continuing to embrace the leaders of the movement?
A further question that ought to be asked in light of the recent venomous anti-Israel statements by Hamas leaders in the past few days: Why is the United Nations trying to convince Hamas to participate in Palestinian presidential and parliamentary elections?
All that is needed is for Erdogan and the rest of the world to listen to the statements of Hamas leaders in the past few days to understand that the movement is more determined than ever to achieve its goals of driving Jews "out of all of Palestine" and replacing Israel with an Islamic state.... What is it that they do not understand about "DEATH TO ISRAEL"? ... It makes one wonder what their real motive is.

There is only one message sent by the recent meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, during a week when Hamas repeated its call for the elimination of Israel: Turkey endorses Hamas and supports its agenda and ideology. Pictured: Erdogan at an anti-Israel rally, wearing a scarf with the flags of Turkey and the Palestinian Authority, on May 18, 2018 in Istanbul. (Photo by Getty Images)

The Palestinian Hamas movement this week celebrated its 32^nd anniversary by reminding everyone of its main goal: the destruction of Israel. This message is proof that Hamas has not – and will not – change its charter, originally published in 1988. It is also a powerful message to those who may have deluded themselves into believing that Hamas has transformed into a non-violent Palestinian faction.

This charter, also known as the Covenant of the Islamic Resistance Movement, states that Hamas's "struggle against the Jews is very great and very serious" and calls for replacing Israel with an Islamic state. "There is no solution for the Palestinian issue except through Jihad (holy war)," the charter says. "Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors. Renouncing any part of Palestine means renouncing part of the religion [of Islam]."

Thirty-two years later, the leaders of Hamas have again shown that they remain more committed than ever to their covenant, particularly regarding the desire to replace Israel with an Islamic state.

In this regard, Hamas deserves credit for being straightforward about its true intention. In statements marking the anniversary of the founding of Hamas, the movement's leaders again demonstrated that they do not mince their words.

Ibrahim Yazouri, one of the founders of Hamas and its military wing, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam, said in an interview with the Hamas-affiliated Palestinian Information Center:

"Hamas and its military wing are continuing with their policy until the liberation of Palestine. We are nearing the day of liberation. Within a few years, God willing, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, occupied Jerusalem and all of Palestine will be liberated. Hamas will continue to use all means to liberate Palestine. The big victory is nearing and we need to be more patient."

When Hamas leaders talk about the "liberation of all of Palestine," they are actually repeating their commitment to destroy Israel.

Moreover, when Hamas leaders talk about using "all means to liberate Palestine," they are referring to various forms of terrorism, including suicide bombings and rocket attacks against Israel. These are the only means Hamas believes in as a way of achieving its goal.

Hamas does not – and will never – recognize Israel's right to exist. As the movement states in its charter, "the land of Palestine has been an Islamic Waqf throughout the generations and until the Day of Resurrection. No one can renounce it or part of it, or abandon it or part of it."

The statements made this week by several Hamas leaders are identical to the content of their charter. These statements – 32 years after the establishment of Hamas – reaffirm the movement's extremist and dangerous ideology.

Osama al-Mazini, another senior Hamas official in the Gaza Strip, said in a speech marking the movement's anniversary: "Hamas promises to remain faithful to its people and principles. The cowardly enemy understands only the language of force and gunpowder." He also called on Jews "to leave Palestine" and warned that Hamas has prepared thousands of suicide bombers to expel the Jews "from all of Palestine."

Musa Abu Marzouk, deputy chairman of the Hamas "Political Bureau," seized the occasion to describe Israel as a "Zionist project." He emphasized the need for Palestinians to "resist the Zionist project in order to liberate Palestine, all of Palestine."

Again, Abu Marzouk's statements show that he, too, remains fully committed to the Hamas charter. "Hamas is one of the links in the chain of Jihad to confront the Zionist invasion," the charter states.

"Zionist organizations control vast material resources, which enable them to fulfill their mission amidst societies, with a view of implementing Zionist goals and sowing the concepts than can be of use to the enemy. Those organizations operate [in a situation] where Islam is absent and alienated from its people. Therefore, the Muslims must fulfill their duty in confronting the schemes of those saboteurs. When Islam will regain possession of [the means] to guide the life [of the Muslims], it will wipe out those [Zionist] organizations which are the enemy of humanity and Islam."

The Hamas anniversary celebrations in the Gaza Strip, which attracted tens of thousands of Palestinians, coincided with efforts made by Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations to reach a long-term ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. The anniversary also came amid increased talk about Hamas's readiness to participate in new elections for the Palestinian Authority presidency and Palestinian parliament, the Palestinian Legislative Council.

The large turnout at the pro-Hamas rallies in the Gaza Strip is indicative of the movement's popularity among Palestinians. The tens of thousands of Palestinians who attended the Hamas rallies would seem to share the movement's principles and ideology, particularly regarding the annihilation of Israel. They, too, apparently believe that force and terrorism are the only languages Israel understands. They, too, chanted in favor of the "liberation of all of Palestine" from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.

Now that Hamas has again – clearly – reminded the world that it has not changed and continues to seek the destruction of Israel, the question is: Why are some world leaders, governments and organizations continuing to embrace the leaders of the movement?

During a week when Hamas is repeating its call for the elimination of Israel, why is Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meeting with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh? What message does such a meeting send to Palestinians and the rest of the Arabs and Muslims?

There is only one message that an encounter between Erdogan and Haniyeh sends: Turkey endorses Hamas and supports its agenda and ideology. It is no wonder that the Hamas leader praised Turkey's "support for the Palestinian people" after the meeting with Erdogan.

A further question that ought to be asked in light of the recent venomous anti-Israel statements by Hamas leaders in the past few days: Why is the United Nations trying to convince Hamas to participate in Palestinian presidential and parliamentary elections?

What is the point of pressuring Hamas to participate in the planned vote as long as Hamas remains committed to Israel's destruction? Instead of urging Hamas to participate in the elections, it would be better if the UN called on Hamas to abandon its charter and stop calling for the destruction of Israel.

The international community already caused damage by allowing Hamas to run unconditionally in the January 2006 Palestinian parliamentary election. Calamitously, the international community failed to demand that Hamas renounce violence, recognize Israel's right to exist and commit to all agreements signed between the Palestinians and Israel as a prerequisite for participating in that election, which resulted in a Hamas victory.

Then, Hamas leaders were clever. They ran in the election under the umbrella of the very same Oslo Accords that they refuse to recognize. Hamas, in other words, used the Oslo Accords which its rejects as a means to take control of the Palestinian parliament.

It now seems that the international community is about to repeat its disastrous decision to permit Hamas to participate in elections. It is really not that hard to understand Hamas's true policies and positions – Hamas makes them crystal clear.

All that is needed is for Erdogan and the rest of the world to listen to the statements of Hamas leaders in the past few days to understand that the movement is more determined than ever to achieve its goals of driving Jews "out of all of Palestine" and replacing Israel with an Islamic state. It has been listening for 32 years. What is it that they do not understand about "DEATH TO ISRAEL"?

Those who are embracing Hamas are only legitimizing its extremist ideology and facilitating its mission of destroying Israel, this time by rising to power through an election backed by the UN, EU and other international parties. It makes one wonder what their real motive is.

Khaled Abu Toameh, an award-winning journalist based in Jerusalem, is a Shillman Journalism Fellow at Gatestone Institute.

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Comment on this item

14 Reader Comments

robert m willer • Dec 19, 2019 at 13:48

The answer is not hard to discern. Erdogan for example -- leader of a people who stole another's land between the Battle of Manzikert in 1078 and the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 -- thinks the state of Israel, supported by all at Versailles in 1919, then by the League of Nations, then in the Mandate granted to UK, then by several British White Papers and reports and finally by the UN in 1947 and 1948, ought not to exist. It somehow has less legitimacy than Turkey, and unlike Northern Cyprus, or Chinese Tibet, is a unique case for destruction. This position is supported by all jihadists and most prominently by the revolutionary regime of Iran and its thuggish acolytes. The EU, most of whose members made significant contributions to the destruction of the Jews of Europe, have the gigantic chutzpah to condemn Israel for defending itself. "Why don't you Jews just go away and die" - not going to happen.

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Selma Soss • Dec 18, 2019 at 23:34

It is no surprise that the Palestinian Hamas movement has not changed its original charter. Its goal is and always has been the destruction of Israel and replacing it with an Islamic State. The real error in judgement has been that of European leaders and our own, for not remembering what Islam was centuries ago, and trusting that there could be some change. Their goal is of course, to set up a caliphate over the world and impose Sharia Law. If they can take Israel down, then their leaders will come in and come to our country as well. Israel blocks it. It would help if the international community realized this.

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Juanita Skelton • Dec 18, 2019 at 21:00

The "real motive" behind the EU, UN, and other political agencies wanting Hamas to get involved in parliamentary elections and the PA Presidential elections is NOT important. Whatever they intend will bring about the continuing chaos that is the Middle East. Conflict fuels economies that have fossil fuels. Keeping this conflict alive fills many pockets with silver and gold.

What is so very strange is the gullibility of the Palestinian people. I don't think that creating a Palestinian State/nation is their truest desire. Power in the Middle East requires this conflict. Those who wish to gain power must regard any formation of a permanent peace, whether as a result of the total elimination of Israel/Zionist Project or the shared power in a two-state solution, would stop the "gravy train." The dream of a return to the Palestine Palatinate or whatever, would then require that Palestine STAND on it's own two feet! They would have increased responsibility to have economies that conformed to independent regulatory systems, an established conformity to EU or UN standards of fiscal responsibility.... not going to happen! It is much more lucrative to be the victim of Zionist Israel. Children who are given allowances but no accompanying quid pro quo, make really big bullies, cowards, and tyrants! Does that sound familiar?

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Harold Lautenberg • Dec 18, 2019 at 18:41

Erdogan is a disgrace
Hamas is a terrorist organisation,.
Jewish people throughout the ages have had enemies, yet we survive.
The likes of Erdogan and Hamas will in time disappear.
Israel is not going away but here to stay and survive.

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Lucille

Harold Lautenberg • Dec 19, 2019 at 11:26

Amen. Praise the Lord.

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claude amar • Dec 18, 2019 at 11:17

Golda Meir in her memoirs explained it clearly and I quote " the only Jew that the world loves is a dead Jew".
Instead Jews have the audacity to survive and to strive.

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Alan • Dec 18, 2019 at 08:18

Edogan provides more proof that Turkey has no business being in NATO or the EU.

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Mario Silvio Nusbaum • Dec 18, 2019 at 07:57

Why do some world leaders, governments and organizations continue to embrace the leaders of the movement?
The answer couldn't be more obvious, because they share its main goal: the destruction of Israel.

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David Kopel

Mario Silvio Nusbaum • Dec 18, 2019 at 21:26

True.

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cammo99 • Dec 18, 2019 at 07:46

All one has to do is read the Hamas Charter , their Bill of Rights to understand that by "The Zionist Project" they mean Jews and their goal is one of destruction not creation not even from the ashes.
They destroy anything Jewish. I doubt if they could even benefit their people by looting.
But the real problem is Hamas parent organization that is not mentioned here, and that may be the problem. The Muslim Brotherhood is spending a fortune building mosques throughout the world, not as the cultural centers it claims, but to proselytize and more significantly to alter the nature of non Islamic states, to undermine civil law and impose sharia law as a political aspect of religion. In this effort they have found numerous allies among "rich" greedy socialists in the west who want to have absolute power to ration liberties and freedoms for everyone else.

People like Sanders who is inciting revolution on national television and stands with Muslim Brotherhood supporters and funded by the Muslim Brotherhood, as are several other democratic socialists. Wikileaks "According to a 2004 article by The Washington Post, U.S. Muslim Brotherhood supporters "make up the U.S. Islamic community's most organized force" by running hundreds of mosques and business ventures, promoting civic activities, and setting up American Islamic organizations to defend and promote Islam.[252] In 1963, the U.S. chapter of Muslim Brotherhood was started by activists involved with the Muslim Students Association (MSA)" Failing to investigate the link and expose the direct relationship between Hamas the Muslim Brotherhood, and socialists who share similar goals and all speak the same when it comes to the Zionist state of Israel as though changing a word it nullifies Antisemitism and bigotry is a rationalization of constipated myths, underlying the pathetic fallacies of what former President Obama dubbed integration globalism when he spoke to a symposium of Muslim and socialist leaders in South Africa, some of them accused of criminal acts.

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Raj • Dec 18, 2019 at 07:43

After 32 years, you would have thought that Hamas may have been forgiven for not coming up with some new ideas. But alas no. The terrorist franchise just keeps on producing the same seventh century backward looking mentality totally unaware that the rest of humanity has moved on to higher ground.

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Miriam • Dec 18, 2019 at 07:05

The EU, the UN, they know very well what is in Hamas Charter. They really don't care. Hamas is doing the work for them that they began in Europe. However this time they can feign shock and horror.
Even Fatah agrees with the charter and Hamas knows that it can continue on this path because all it will receive is a slap on the wrist (if that) and that it will be championed by academia and the leftist media, especially when Israel must defend itself!
In the meantime, both Hamas and Fatah brainwash their youth that they will liberate all of "Palestine" and that being a martyr by murdering Jews is a great path to follow. They also brainwash their youth that the Jews have zero connection to the land.

It is interesting that the EU, the Church of England and the Pope are not vocal on this. By saying that the Jews have no connection to Israel and Jerusalem, it is actually negating Christianity or are they now agreeing the claim that Jesus was really a Palestinian? As I often say, we are living in Orwellian times!

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Frances Weingarten • Dec 18, 2019 at 06:42

Needless to say, it is now clearly known to all that the goal of Hamas and all his cohort is to destroy Israel. What is mystifying is that so many -- including Erdogan -- are saying nothing against Hamas! Israel can and will prevent Hamas from inflicting damage on Israel but nevertheless, there could be much destruction before Hamas is defeated! We can only hope that the battle for Israel ends quickly and with as little damage to the country as possible! I can't say that Israel won't wreak havoc during this episode but Hamas and all his cohort will certainly be in dire straits by the time Israel has conquered Hamas!

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Clive Delmonte • Dec 18, 2019 at 05:53

Mr Abu Toameh might add one point to his excellent essay. How stable do the Arab states around Israel think they would be if (unthinkably !!) Hamas were to replace Israel ? Hamas has no allegiance to any neighbor state, is angry, heavily armed, revolutionary and would be backed by Iran. Israel's neighbors should be very, very careful what they wish for !!

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