15 May 2001

In the name of Allah the most Gracious the most Merciful

On the anniversary of the usurpation of Palestine

Let the intifada be the springboard towards liberation

Our steadfast people … our people everywhere …

We remember today the 53^rd anniversary of the usurpation of Palestine at the hands of Zionist gangs with the full and direct support of the then British occupation. Those gangs practiced the most brutal massacres against our people to force their immigration out of their lands and property.

The anniversary this year falls at a time when our people are living through a saga of heroism and sacrifice in face of the Zionist enemy’s tyranny. Thus they confirm that more than half a century of occupation and repression would not terminate that people’s Jihad, resistance and steadfastness. On the contrary, they affirm their insistence on the right of liberating all usurped lands, Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and holy shrines from Zionist occupation. The anniversary further falls at a time when Sharon’s savage aggression against our people is escalating daily in an all-out offensive. The latest such attack was the barbaric aerial and sea shelling of the Gaza Strip last night other than the cowardly assassination of five Palestinian policemen earlier yesterday near Ramallah. The savage onslaught also includes the bombardment and explosions in various cities, villages and refugee camps and the killing of innocent children and assassinating intifada and resistance cadres in a feverish attempt on the part of Sharon to break our people’s steadfastness and resistance in preparation for imposing his conditions.

In the light of this continuous Zionist escalation, We affirm to our steadfast Mujahid people the following:

1- Failure of the peace settlement process and program in the light of the bitter experience. It has been proven beyond reasonable doubt that the enemy does not respect any pledges or agreements. It has been proven that there is no use from any contacts or meetings with that enemy for it only understood the language of force and resistance. Hence, all forces in the Palestinian arena, that are daily attacked and murdered, are called upon to decide their options immediately and stick to the resistance program. They should support and develop resistance means with all potentials without heeding any other alternatives or initiatives.

2- Importance of preserving national unity, which was achieved by the grace of Allah and was strengthened in the field along the road of intifada and resistance. We should boost, protect and insist on the intifada in its capacity as our effective tool in this ferocious battle against the enemy. Here we bless the efforts of factions and forces and we bless this great steadfastness, patience and sacrifice of our people in the occupied homeland. We also bless activity of our people in the diaspora calling on them to reflect more such interaction.

3- Despite the big losses in the ranks of our people, yet the party that is really cornered is Sharon, his terrorist government and the Zionist society in general. This is reflected in the enemy soldiers, settlers and street’s low moral as a result of their casualties and loss of security and stability and their growing feeling of concern over the present and future of the Zionist entity despite the elapse of more than half a century over their usurpation of Palestine. Consequently, we call on our Mujahid people and struggling forces to be more patient and steadfast over the resistance program for victory is ours and defeat will befall our enemies, which will not be far off Insha’allah. “O ye who believe! persevere in patience and constancy; vie in such perseverance; strengthen each other; and fear Allah; that ye may prosper” . “if ye are suffering hardships, they are suffering similar hardships; but ye have hope from Allah, while they have none.”

Our Arab and Islamic Nation …

It goes without saying that the Zionist usurpation of Palestine did not target the Palestinian people only but rather the whole Nation. Hence and as long as Palestine and its holy places are of concern to the whole Nation, based on religious duty and national responsibility, … why is this suspicious silence? Why does the Nation leave its people in Palestine face the Zionist carnage and shoulder burdens of the battle alone?

In the light of the aforementioned we urge the Arab and Islamic governments and peoples to do the following:

1- Sense the importance of shouldering their responsibility regarding the grave events taking place on the land of Palestine and present to our people all forms of political, financial and popular backing in addition to arms and equipment on the basis of participating in the battle in its capacity as the whole Nation’s battle. There is no room here for neutrality, mediation, silence or wait and see!!

We praise, in this regard, the Arab and Islamic masses that renewed their interaction with our people’s intifada and request more such action. We call on the rest of the Nation’s masses to urgently follow their suit.

2- The Nation has to realize that the era of defeat, which we suffered in the past, has ended with the grace of Allah. The Zionists could no longer dictate on us whatever they wish. The Zionists’ defeat in Palestine is practically possible. Their defeat in South Lebanon, the first anniversary of which passes these days, at the hands of the Islamic resistance is a living example. Our people’s intifada, resistance and great sacrifices furnish the atmosphere and allow the opportunity before our Nation today to register a new victory, God willing, against this usurping entity.

Our Arab and Islamic peoples …

We are standing these days at an important crossing point in our history and before a big responsibility in confrontation with the Zionist project that necessitate uniting the ranks, shouldering the burden of Jihad and resistance and mobilizing potentials requesting first and foremost the help of almighty Allah.

“ If ye will aid (the cause of) Allah, He will aid you, and plant your feet firmly.”

Allahu Akbar and victory for our people and Nation

It is a Jihad until either victory or martyrdom

The Islamic Resistance Movement
Hamas – Palestine
Monday 20^th Safar 1422H
14^th May 2001AD