15 May 2000

In the name of Allah the most Gracious the most Merciful

  Congratulations to our people over the release of
The Mujahid leader Salah Shehade

Twelve years in Jail was part of the price that a Mujahid like Sheikh Salah Shehade had paid in sacrifice for his country and cause. Twelve years of struggle along with his colleagues the other detainees in occupation prisons, recording shining pages of heroism and sacrifice for the sake of our land, cause and sanctities.

The Zionist Occupation authority has refused to set free the Mujahid Salah Shehade despite the fact that his prison sentence had expired. It renewed his arrest for more than two years in a way exposing arrogance of occupation, which does not accord any weight to right, and whose entity is founded on aggression, oppression and wrong for 52 years.

Brother Salah Shehade, along with his brothers the Mujahideen in the military wing of Hamas, represented the symbol of Jihad and resistance for our people and Ummah. They represented a symbol of patience and steadfastness, a model in challenging jailers. The operations, which he launched along with his brothers, posed as our people’s hope for victory and liberation. His steadfastness in jail was a model of pride and dignity through which he affirmed that the Qassam heroes never bargain over their country, sanctities or dignity of their people and that they sacrifice their souls for the cause of Allah in their battle against occupation. They drew to other detainees the image of a patient believer.

We, in the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, affirm that releasing all heroic detainees will remain our and our people’s permanent goal and that we will not rest until the last prisoner of our people is set free.

The coincidental release of Mujahid Salah Shehade with the popular confrontations, the solidarity campaigns with our detainees and resisting occupation soldiers and settler herds strongly affirm that rights are grabbed. It also underscores that releasing heroic detainees is only possible through pressuring the occupation authority and escalating confrontations against it rather than begging (for rights) at the negotiating table.

We regret that the release of Sheikh Salah Shehade fell at a time when the Palestinian Authority is pursuing and arresting Mujahideen in service of Zionist occupation.

Allahu Akbar and victory for our Mujahid people

The Islamic Resistance Movement
(Hamas – Palestine)
Monday 11 Safar 1421H
15 May 2000