21 December 2001

In the name of Allah the most Gracious the most Merciful

Communiqué by the Islamic Resistance Movement – Hamas

On the suspension of martyrdom operations in the occupied lands

All praises to Allah and peace be upon His messenger, family, companions and his followers,

To our Mujahid Palestinian people and our Arab and Islamic Ummah

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

For the sake of preserving our Palestinian people’s unity and maintaining their Jihad march towards freedom and independence, despite our full knowledge of the Zionist enemy’s intentions to wipe out our people’s determination and impose humiliation on them through repressive measures and aggressive policies, and responding to people of wisdom who wish to foil the occupiers’ plan of hitting the unity of our ranks and based on our historic responsibility at this sensitive stage of our people’s history, we declare suspension of martyrdom operations in the 1948 occupied territories and a stoppage of mortar firing until further notice.

We affirm that all Hamas cadres especially the Qassam Brigades should abide by this matter until Allah ordains whatever He wills.

It is a Jihad until either victory or martyrdom

 The Islamic Resistance Movement
Hamas – Palestine
Friday 21/12/2001AD
6^th Shawwal 1422H