Chief of Hamas Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh denounced on Wednesday normalisation of ties with Israeli occupation as “grave political sin, harmful for interests of Arab and Muslims.”

In a letter sent to more than 30 Arab and Muslim leaders, Haniyeh stressed that normalisation “is harmful to national security on a foreseeable and strategic scale, a serious danger to the Palestinian cause and a stab in the back of our people and Ummah.” 

Haniyeh explained that the Palestinian cause is facing grave challenges and risks threatening its “present, future and existence as the Israeli terrorism and aggression against our people and lands is escalating.”

The top Hamas leader stated that “Hamas followed with deep sadness and condemnation the signing of normalisation agreements between some Arab states and the Israeli occupation, brokered by the US administration.”

He added that his movement had also denounced the Arab League for not approving a Palestinian draft resolution condemning normalisation with the Israeli occupation.

“This stance lures the Israeli occupation to entrench its aggressive approach against the Palestinian people and their homeland,” Haniyeh continued, adding: “The Arab League should be a representative for the consciousness of the Arab people’s rejection of the normalisation.”      

The Israeli occupation leaders take advantage of such moves to increase their settlement policy, occupation and Judaisation, as well as to escalate their crimes against the Palestinian people, homeland, Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque, Haniyeh said. 

‘Serious risk’

The top Hamas leader stressed that the Israeli occupation “was and will remain the common first enemy of the Arab and Muslim world.”

Normalisation of ties with the Israeli occupation will put the Arab national security at stake as it breaks an Arab and Islamic consensus and violates all norms and resolutions taken by the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Haniyeh continued.   

“The only beneficiary from normalisation is the Israeli occupation, while the biggest loser are the normalisers themselves,” Haniyeh stressed.

He explained that normalisation agreements were made either by using political extortion or creation of an unreal economic development.

“This move proves how weak and disappointed the Israeli occupation and its extremist government are, on one hand, and how serious is this crime at the expense of our people’s rights and their just cause and the interests of the Ummah and its present and future,” Haniyeh added. 

‘False excuses’

Haniyeh said that the Arab regimes which normalised relations with the Israeli occupation had offered “false political, humanitarian and strategical excuses.” 

“Sooner or later, the truth about the Israeli occupation and its purposes of this course will come out for everyone,” Haniyeh added. “The countries that have normalised with the Israeli occupation will find out how grave is the mistake they perpetrated.” 

A front against normalisation

The head of Hamas Political Bureau called for Arab and Muslim governments, parliaments and organisations to form a unified Arab and Islamic front against normalisation of ties with the Israeli occupation, which threatens their unity, stability and national security.

Haniyeh renewed his call for passing laws criminalising normalisation with the Israeli occupation in order to support the Arab and Muslim home front by reinforcing their unity and stability and preserving their identity, which rejects the Israeli occupation and defends the Palestinians’ legitimate right to resist the Israeli occupation, liberate their lands, and return to their homeland.   

He said that his movement highly appreciates all Arab and Muslim positions against normalisation with the Israeli occupation. 

Hamas is always looking forward to intensifying Arab and Muslim efforts at the official and popular levels to criminalise normalisation and foil any attempt to normalise ties with the Israeli occupation and whitewash its image, Haniyeh affirmed.

He concluded his letter by expressing his hope that the Arab and Muslim world would support the Palestinian people in their struggle against the Israeli occupation until they liberate their homeland and establish their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Hamas chief reiterated that the Palestinian people would remain united and committed to their rights and constants and would continue to oppose normalisation with the Israeli occupation and would never recognise the Israeli occupation of Palestine.