14 December 2000

In the name of Allah the most gracious the most Merciful

Holy Aqsa intifada … an intifada to defeat occupation

Communiqué no. (17)

On the anniversary of its outbreak … Hamas: resistance until victory

The anniversary of victory in Bader this year coincides with the 13^th anniversary of the outbreak of the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, posing as a renewed hope for the upcoming dawn and victory of our people Insha’allah. It further affirms that the Jihad option is the only one capable of formulating that hopeful victory.

Hence, let the holy Aqsa intifada continue and escalate and all hail to those using guns and to the Qassam elements who launch declared and undeclared heroic operations from Khadera to the martyrdom marine operation off Rafah to Kfar Darum to ambushes targeting occupiers all over our homeland. So continue along your path O heroes whether declaring or not declaring your operations and do not be provoked by those who do not know the truth.

A proud salutation to all martyrs of the blessed intifada and to the Qassam martyrs Hamdy Mikdad, Ibrahim Bani Odeh, Awad Silmi and Abbas Iwewi those pure and hidden heroes who taught the Nation the road to sacrifice, those who vanquished the Zionists.

Our stationed Palestinian people … the holy Aqsa intifada had entered a new stage through the painful blows against cowardly Zionists and frightened settlers everywhere, which made them lose their minds and sense that their fragile entity was shaken thanks to strikes of the Mujahideen. Hence they lost confidence in their topmost General and his government fell down heralding the fall of their state God willing.

We affirm that efforts exerted for the sake of returning to the negotiating table were but desperate attempts to save the Zionists at the expense of our people’s intifada, Jihad and blood of martyrs. The biased American fact-finding committee was one of those desperate attempts. We do not believe it would lead to anything and we believe that in the end it would only serve the Zionists’ interests.

Our Mujahid Palestinian people … the ferocious Zionist offensive point to the Generals’ despair. The savage storming of Khan Younis refugee camp yesterday, the bombing of Beit Jala or the cowardly assassinations against our people’s heroes are all indications of the failure of the Zionist Generals. Such attempts would only boost our people’s solidity and determination to go ahead along the road of resistance until defeat of occupation. So depend on Allah and be patient for the victory in the end will be for those who fear Allah.

Our Palestinian people … our Arab-Islamic Nation … the Hamas Movement while commemorating its 13^th anniversary would like to affirm the following:

First: on the Palestinian level:

1- Hamas urges the Palestinian people to launch more resistance of the occupation soldiers and herds of settlers using all available means.

2- Hamas affirms the importance of applying the Sharia of Allah against the agent Allan Kharyoush who masterminded, along with his Zionist masters, the assassination of the Qassam Brigades’ commander Ibrahim Bani Odeh. The Palestinian people would not accept anything less than executing that agent and his like. Hamas further affirms the importance of exposing, prosecuting and trying all collaborators, who are spreading corruption, in their capacity as the most important tools of occupation in perpetrating internal sabotage and committing assassinations.

3- The Movement stresses the necessity of heading to the Aqsa Mosque despite the criminal Zionists’ siege and let the last Friday in Ramadan be the day of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) to affirm our protection and catering of the holy Aqsa.

4- The Movement affirms that there is no justification for retaining political detainees in Palestinian Authority jails. This bleeding wound should be stopped by releasing them topped by Dr. Abdul Aziz Ranteesi who started a hunger strike on Sunday 12.12.00. We request our people to display solidarity with him and pressure decision-makers to ensure his release along with other political detainees.

5- We ask our people to maintain visits to families of martyrs, detainees and wounded especially in this holy month.

6- The Movement asserts the importance of maintaining the boycott of Zionist and American goods and setting a certain mechanism to ensure continuation of this matter and abidance of all.

7- We salute our brothers in Palestine occupied in 1948 and urge those who serve in the occupation army, which killed their families and brothers in all Palestine, to withdraw from this army and return to the embraces of their people who are struggling to get rid of that occupation. The Movement appreciates efforts by certain Druze figures in the Galilee towards that end and call for supporting them in a way that would enhance our national unity and cohesion in face of occupation.

8- Hamas greets our heroic detainees in Zionist occupation prisons and vows never to forget them or be content until their release. On this occasion we hail our brothers the Mujahideen in Hizbullah and its secretary general Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah for his insistence on releasing all detainees and prisoners in the Zionist occupation prisons.

Second: on the Arab and Islamic levels:

1- Hamas calls on the Arab and Islamic peoples to retain the state of solidarity with the Palestinian people in a way coping with continuation and escalation of the intifada.

2- Hamas urges the Arab and Islamic peoples to extend more material and moral aid to our patient people to strengthen their determination and intifada.

3- Hamas asks all Arab and Islamic peoples to pray on Lailatul Qadr and the last ten days of Ramadan for the victory of our people and defeat of our enemies the Zionists.

Third: activities:

Hamas calls on its members, supporters and all Palestinians to abide by the struggle and Jihad program issued by the national and Islamic committees and affirms importance of continuation of marches of rage especially following the Friday noon congregations and let the grounds turn into fire under the feet of the Zionist occupiers.

Allahu Akbar … victory to our Mujahid people

Allahu Akbar … wa Lillah Al-Hamd

The Islamic Resistance Movement
(Hamas – Palestine)
14 December 2000