The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas rejects the Israeli occupation's escalation of its aggression against the Palestinian people and their lands through settlement, demolition, and displacement.

The latest of such crimes was the Israeli occupation's approval of plans to build a new illegal settlement block on the lands of Deir Istiya in the occupied West Bank city of Salfit and its decision to demolish a school northeast of Ramallah, in addition to its repeated attempts to demolish the Nabi Musa community northeast of occupied Jerusalem.

We reiterate that these crimes amount to an open war against the Palestinian people and their land. This war will not grant the Israeli occupation any legitimacy over Palestine and will not succeed in altering its features, displacing its people, and wiping out the Palestinian identity.

In light of the escalating Israeli aggression under the nose of whole world and the Israeli occupation's disregard of international and UN conventions, laws, and reports rejecting such violations, we call on human rights groups and international organisations to assume their responsibilities towards putting an end to the Israeli occupation's terrorism and its colonization of the Palestinian lands and holy sites.

This requires the Palestinian people to continue their legitimate struggle across all arenas to defend themselves, protect their constants and holy sites, and regain their national rights, above all their rights to liberation and self-determination.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qasem

Saturday, 13 August 2022