24 May 2000

In the name of Allah the most Gracious the most Merciful
“… How oft, by Allah’s will, hath a small force vanquished a big one…”

Today Lebanon … Tomorrow Palestine
Congratulations to Lebanon and its brave resistance for their great victory

The Lebanese people along with the Arab and Islamic Nation these days celebrate the resistance’s victory over the enemy’s army and its quislings in South Lebanon. Here it is, the Zionist enemy, running away from South Lebanon humiliated, panicked and defeated. And here it is the army of agent Lahd collapsing and vanishing completely after the brave Islamic and nationalist Lebanese resistance turned its life, along with that of the occupation, into unbearable hell thanks to heroism and daring operations of the Mujahideen.

Lebanon, on the official and popular levels, has adopted and supported the resistance with all its trends, sects and strength. It extended support and backing, it was patient and bore the repercussions, blood … pain … tears, and here it is now reaping the fruit of its patience, Jihad and stands.

Our Arab and Islamic Nation :

The victories of our people in Lebanon against the Zionist enemy affirm beyond any doubt that Jihad, resistance, blood and sacrifices extract rights. Victory is not granted nor begged. The Lebanese victory emphasizes that the Zionist enemy only understands the language of force and arms and only kneels before steadfast men. The Palestinian people should be fully aware of that lesson and to resume, with its guidance, their Jihad and resistance.

Our Palestinian people
Our Arab and Islamic Nation :

It is really painful that at the time when the Lebanese people and government affirm their cohesion and support to the resistance and achieve their wonderful victories, the Palestinian Authority, on behalf of the occupation, pursues the Mujahideen to arrest them. It also confronts our angry masses and prevents them from engaging the occupation soldiers. The PA is also seeking to abort the latest Palestinian detainees’ Intifadha.

The PA thought that through such practices it would please the occupiers and facilitate its humiliating negotiations with them while Barak’s arrogance was increasing along with his conditions and dictates on the PA, which finally gives up because it lost all pressure and power cards and stood before the Zionist enemy completely paralyzed and submissive.

Our Palestinian people
Our Arab and Islamic Nation :

We, in the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, and on behalf of the patient, steadfast Palestinian people congratulate the brotherly Lebanese people, government and brave resistance topped by the heroes the Mujahideen of Hizbullah over their great victory and for liberating their lands and forcing out the invading occupiers. We also congratulate Syria and Iran and all those who backed the resistance. Congratulations to our Palestinian people and to our Arab and Islamic nation for this victory. And we pledge to our people and Nation and we vow to all martyrs and steadfast detainees that we will go ahead along the road of Jihad and resistance insisting on our right to all of our lands regardless of the length of that road or its dear sacrifices and no matter how arrogant was the Zionist enemy.

We are confident that the will of our people will be victorious in the end exactly similar to the victory of the Lebanese people’s will against Zionist aggression and arrogance.

Allahu Akbar and victory to our people and Nation

The Islamic Resistance Movement
(Hamas – Palestine)
Wednesday 20 Safar 1421H
24 May 2000